What is Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday is now called pancake day by many children across the globe, but what is its actual origin?

The name itself comes from the Anglo-Saxon practice of confessing and receiving absolution before Lent. This was known as shriving. The pancake aspect came from the fact that eggs, milk, and sugar were historically banned during lent, so Shrove Tuesday was the last day to eat them before Lent. Some traditions include pancake races and mob football games in various parts of the UK.

In different countries Shrove Tuesday is called something different; in France it’s called Mardi Gras (fat Tuesday), in Sweden it is known as Fettisdagen (which also translates to 'Fat Tuesday') and in Germany it is called Fastnacht which translates to 'eve of the fast'!