Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

This week the church begins the 40 day season of Lent. However, leading up to Lent were Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.

What is Shrove Tuesday? Its origin dates back well over 1000 years. Shrove Tuesday is the last day of “Shrovetide,” the week preceding the beginning of Lent. The word “shrove” is the past tense of “shrive” which means to give absolution after confession. The word ‘shrovetide’ is the English equivalent for ‘carnival’ which is derived from the Latin words ‘carnen levare’, meaning to take away the flesh.

Shrovetide was the time to cast off things of the flesh and to prepare spiritually for Lent. This spiritual meaning eventually found its way into the physical realm, evolving as a way for Christians to use up food before fasting for Lent, which would otherwise spoil over the Lenten period. In England, pancakes were prepared as a means of depleting their eggs, milk, butter and fat which were part of the Lenten fast. Some areas of the church also abstained from all forms of meat and animal products while others made exceptions for food like fish. As Wednesday marks the beginning of the journey to Easter, and often involves self-reflection and some practice of self denial, the question remains – What will you give up for Lent? If you do choose to give/give up something, Jesus words in his Sermon on the Mount raises a caution: “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others, but by your Father who is in secret; and our Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18)

The truly examined life rests in knowing that you have been given a heart that perceives the rich mercy of a heavenly Father who knows what you need even before you ask.

Pastor Darryl

Photo by Sergey Shmidt on Unsplash