Shrove Tuesday 2023

This year, Easter Sunday is on 9 April – eight days earlier than last year – with its position calculated based on the first full moon that follows the spring equinox in March. 

Shrove Tuesday immediately precedes Ash Wednesday, which in turn heralds the start of Lent, the Christian season supposed to replicate the Biblical story of Jesus Christ’s withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. 

fluffy souffle pancakes

As the last chance for a bit of indulgence before the 40 days of Lent, Christians would use up their leftover ingredients such as eggs, butter and milk, by turning them into cakes to be eaten on the day. 

Over the years there have been various ways to celebrate Shrove Tuesday and English pancakes aren’t the only type to try. There are also French crepes, Indian dosas or Japanese souffle pancakes to consider. 

Yum! Yum! Yum! Binge today for we starve tomorrow. 

fluffy Japanese souffle pancakes

Mothering Sunday

Laetare means "rejoice" in Latin. The 40 days of Lent are a time for solemnity among Roman Catholics - a time for removing vices and other distractions to facilitate meditative reflection. The wise and wily church recognized that people may need a break to tide some through Lent. 

The fourth Sunday was considered a day of relaxation from the normal rigors imposed. A day of hope when Easter is within sight. 

rose chasuble (Sunday Gaudete and Laetare)

Traditionally, baptisms, confirmations, and weddings are performed on this day. Otherwise, celebrations were generally discouraged and even banned during the Lenten season of sorrow. 

dust in the wind

Just like that, here we are - Lenten season has started with Ash Wednesday on February 17. 

Lent is the traditional commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry. 

Ash Wednesday

On Wednesday clergy around the world draw a cross-shaped smudge of dark ash on the foreheads of millions of people. It is the ancient rite of The Imposition of Ashes which signals the start of Lent.