Shrove Tuesday is a key event in the Christian calendar, which takes place every year before the commencement of Lent (the 40-day period leading up to Easter). For many Christians, the date is marked by the ritual burning of the previous year’s Holy Week palms, participating in confession and absolution, and eating pancakes.
Traditionally, Lent is a time of sacrifice, when it is customary to abstain from certain activities, such as eating unhealthy food, drinking alcohol, smoking, using social media, or watching television. Accordingly, Shrove Tuesday is often regarded as a day of celebration: the last opportunity for indulgence before Christians begin their Lenten sacrifices.
Observers mark the occasion by eating pancakes; an effective means of using up luxury ingredients such as eggs and sugar. Today, Shrove Tuesday – also known as ‘Pancake Tuesday’, ‘Pancake Day’ or mardi gras – is celebrated in many countries, by Christians and non-Christians alike. In New Orleans, mardi gras (or ‘Fat Tuesday’) is a particularly important event, constituting the climax of the annual Carnival season, when revelers enjoy parades, music, and excellent food.