3547 Clifton Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
Phone: 513-861-1295
Pastor: Rev. Todd Grogan
OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
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Catholic Parish
Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Day!
What is Shrove Tuesday? And why eat pancakes on this day? The word “shrove” comes from a word that means “to have your sins forgiven.” In older times, people would celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday), and also ask forgiveness from one another. Then for their penance, they would keep the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In these older times, fasting laws were much stricter than they are now. No oil, fat, meat, dairy products, etc., were eaten at all during Lent. So what did you do with the eggs, oil, milk, etc., that you had at home? You made pancakes to eat before Lent began. Through the centuries, Christians all around the globe have celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday as Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day! This day is also called Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, because it is the last chance to eat up all the forbidden foods of Lent!
Even the ingredients in pancakes have a spiritual significance:
Eggs symbolize creation.
Flour is the staff of life.
Salt represents wholesomeness.
Milk symbolizes purity.
*Click here for more information about how Pancake Day is celebrated in some other countries.
