Pancakes for dinner tonigth! It's Shrove Tuesday!

Not only is today Fat Tuesday, the beginning or Mardi Gras, it's also known as Shrove Tuesday! It's the beginning of Lent. "Shrove" is the past tense of the word "shrive," which means to hear a confession, assign penance, and absolve from sin. Shrove Tuesday is a reminder that we are entering a season of penance."

Here in the United States we obviously know today as Fat Tuesday. This day isn't regularly known in the United States as Shrove Tuesday as much as it is in other parts of the world, when I read about it, I thought it would be a nice way to start Lent and start another tradition in our family.

Years ago, Catholics were not allowed to eat meat (or meat products at all) and rich foods during Lent rather than no meat on Fridays like we do now. Making pancakes was a way for families to use up all the fat, eggs, milk, and sugar in the house before fasting. It signifies the beginning of the 40 days of fasting that Christ went through leading up to his death.

And I must add, who doesn't like breakfast for dinner?! It's one of my favorite meals, LOL!!

• Shrove Tuesday and Shrovetide
• Shrove Tuesday - Definition of Shrove Tuesday
• Pancake Tuesday
• Catholic Roots of Mardi Gras
• Shrovetide