Shrove Tuesday

A lot of people know today as Mardi Gras, "Pancake Day",  or "Fat Tuesday". Who can not love a holiday called "Fat Tuesday"? :)

Today is the day before  Ash Wednesday, and I want to point out that it is also called "Shrove Tuesday".   This is the final day of Carnival, the Fast of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday.

For many centuries people went to confession and were "shriven" of their sins, and then gathered all the fat (oil) in the house to use before the Fast of Lent descended. Thus began the party atmosphere and the tradition of pancakes, using the oil.  They had no oil in their foods for the next 40 days.

I was talking to a friend at my Parish this Sunday, and she pointed out that Lent was one season that modern commercialism has not totally debased. How would the multi-colored Sunday Advertisements be centered around the theme of penitence and contrition and self-examination in the light of Christ. I don't think that would be very easy, so we, as humans focus only on the wild parties of Mardi Gras, forgetting this is also a day of Confession and preparation.

Our modern life isn't interrupted by the Sacred enough, today enjoy the parties and pancakes but remember the Sacred, remember that under the Mardi Gras mask, we still need an examined life.

Comments

[Rachel]

The grocery stores around here manage to tie in their advertising with Lent, LOL!

"Lenten Specials" include anything other than meat.

[one__woman]

I never thought of it- you're right it has not been taken over by the commercialism of today-Although, I don't think enough churches advertise it either- it should be something all Christians participate in not divided by demonitational lines. Enjoyed the post.

[Ben]

It is good to read your words again. I have been out of the blog world for a while and have missed reading your thoughts.

As I sat in the Ash Wednesday service yesterday, I thought about how neglected this season is for so many in the Christian family, and how it might be season in most need of attention.

Lord, help us to come to you in repentance and humility. And may we, through suffering with you, be covered and filled with your grace, so as to share that grace to the world. Amen.