During the Epiphany season, our readings have been about how Jesus was revealed to the world as the Son of God, the one promised to fulfill God’s promises. The next season is Lent (from an old word meaning springtime). During Lent, the Church calls its members to examine themselves, repent of sins, and prepare for the good news, to be celebrated at Easter, that Jesus has made possible the forgiveness of sins. To support this season of self-examination, it is traditional for Christians to give up comforts such as certain foods and drinks (fasting) and to perform additional acts of devotion (prayer, study, service to others).
The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday because on that day Christians are marked on the forehead with ashes to symbolize their mortality and need for forgiveness.
In preparation for the voluntary abstinences of Lent, the custom arose of meeting on the day before Ash Wednesday to confess sins and to use up foods that would not be eaten during the fasting period. Thus, the day before Ash Wednesday is variously called Shrove Tuesday (from a word meaning to confess sins), and Carnival (meaning “goodbye to meat”), and Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French, meaning a day to use up fats). Someone figured out that making pancakes was an efficient way to use up sugar, eggs, and fat, so it has become traditional to have pancake suppers on Shrove Tuesday.
In some places, Mardi Gras/Carnival has become a time of bawdy revelry, obscuring the original point of the day as initiating a season of reflection on our sins. At St. Barnabas, we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a pancake supper.
Mark your calendars for:
February 13: Shrove Tuesday pancake supper starting at 6:00 pm.
February 14: Ash Wednesday services with imposition of ashes at noon and at 6:30 pm.
Following Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, Lent will continue for 40 days (not counting Sundays, which are not part of Lent). Watch this space for more information about Lenten activities at St. Barnabas.
Thank you for sharing with me about the history of the Anglican Church regarding Lent and what leads up to it. I served in the Episcopal Church located in Japan as a missionary. I remember I knew about the 40 days, but not about eliminating Sundays. It confused me, but that’s how I learned about it. Thank you.
I wish I could come to your pancake supper, but have no ride.
I just wrote a long comment, but don’t’ know how to enter into your system. Thank you for thinking of me.
Love in Jesus, Dana Lou Thompson