Happy Fat/Shrove Tuesday

Happy Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day!

    I know many denominations do not recognize any of the above, so I thought I would give a very simple explanation today. Shrove, from the verb "to shrive" which means to confess one's sins and receive forgiveness in preparation for a Holy Lent. Shrove Tuesday is a day of penitence to clean the soul before Lent and a day of celebration as the last day to feast and frolic! Back in the days when fasting was strictly observed during Lent, Christians would rid their homes of those items considered forbidden, including eggs, fat, butter, milk and meat. 

 Pancake dinners were an obvious choice for using up all of these items without wasting them.  Thus, Shrove Tuesday the eve before Ash Wednesday, became known as Pancake Day, Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. So tonight, much to Mr Bubbles chagrin, we will have pancakes and bacon for dinner. Yum, personally, I love breakfast for dinner! 

(http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/   via: Pinterest)

     Tomorrow evening I will attend Ash Wednesday services. I always find this service such a spiritually moving and humble experience. To be reminded that none of us are without sin and that each of us will return to dust one day but through the sign of the cross, we are reminded, that we are saved.