Today is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday or Shove Tuesday, the feast before the famine. The name Shrove comes from "shrive," meaning absolution from sins by doing penance. It was called "Fastnacht Day" (evening before the fast) in old Pennsylvania Dutch country.
In the United Kingdom, Shrove Tuesday is also known as "Pancake Day." It's traditional to eat pancakes as a meal and towns held pancake races.
During Lent, meat, eggs, dairy products, alcohol and most fun activities were given up. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and this is the last chance to use fatty foods like butter and eggs so they don't go to waste. I told John this morning I might give up wine for Lent. He just snickered.
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