Shrove Tuesday facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shrove Tuesday |
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Pieter Bruegel the Elder: The Fight Between Carnival and Lent (detail), 1559
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| Observed by | Followers of many Christian denominations (including the Orthodox churches) and by common custom |
| Type | Christian |
| Date | In seventh week before Easter, day before Ash Wednesday |
| 2024 date | February 13 |
| 2025 date | March 4 |
| 2026 date | February 17 |
| 2027 date | February 9 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Ash Wednesday Fat Thursday Mardi Gras |
Shrove Tuesday is a special day celebrated by many Christians around the world. It happens just before a time of prayer and fasting called Lent. Lent lasts for 40 days and leads up to Easter.
On Shrove Tuesday, people traditionally make and eat pancakes. This tradition started because people wanted to use up rich foods like eggs, milk, and fat. These foods were often avoided during Lent.
This day is also known as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day in places like the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. In other countries, especially the United States, it is often called Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French.
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What is Shrove Tuesday?
Shrove Tuesday is the day right before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Lent is a period of 40 days when many Christians prepare for Easter. During Lent, some people give up certain foods or activities.
The word "Shrove" comes from an old English word, shrive. This word means to confess sins and receive forgiveness. In the past, people would confess their sins on this day. They would get ready for the serious time of Lent.
Why Do People Eat Pancakes?
Eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday is a very old tradition. Before Lent began, people wanted to use up all the rich ingredients they had. These ingredients included eggs, milk, and butter. They would not eat these foods during Lent.
Pancakes were a perfect way to use up these items. This helped people avoid wasting food. It also helped them get ready for a simpler diet during Lent.
Other Names for This Day
Shrove Tuesday has different names around the world:
- In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia, it is often called Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday.
- In the United States and other places, it is known as Mardi Gras. This French name means "Fat Tuesday." It refers to eating rich foods before Lent.
- Some countries have similar celebrations. For example, in Russia, a holiday called Maslenitsa (Butter Week) is celebrated. It also involves eating pancakes.
How is it Celebrated?
Many people celebrate Shrove Tuesday by making and eating pancakes at home. Some towns even hold special events:
- Pancake Races: In some places, like Olney in England, people run races while flipping pancakes in a pan. This is a fun and unique tradition.
- Carnivals: In countries that celebrate Mardi Gras, there are often big parades and parties. These celebrations are full of music, dancing, and colorful costumes. They are a last chance to have fun before Lent.
Images for kids
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Russian artist Boris Kustodiev's Maslenitsa (1916)
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Shrove Tuesday, Bear guiding in Poland (1950)
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On Shrove Tuesday, many Christians confess their sins, in preparation for Lent; depicted is an Evangelical Lutheran confessional in Luther Church (Helsinki, Finland)
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Football match in the 1846 Shrove Tuesday in Kingston upon Thames, England
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A pancake race in Olney, Buckinghamshire, 2009
See also
In Spanish: Martes de Carnaval para niños
