Mardi Gras vs Shrove Tuesday

The titles for this day beg for translation. The only word that makes sense to most is “Tuesday”, and we have probably learned the “Mardi” is French for “Tuesday” and “gras” is French for “fat”, so we are getting somewhere. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. Below we will get to why would we name a day Fat Tuesday.

“Shrove” is a strange word; it is antiquated English. If a priest is shriven it means he or she is cleansed of sin, by being issued penance and then absolution, so our word for this day has to do with penitence and purification. Long ago the three days before Ash Wednesday were call “Shrovetide” consisting of Shrove Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. These were days when the church did a personal self-examination and private, sacramental confession before the big public day of corporate penitence on Ash Wednesday, with the imposition of ashes on the forehead. This mark on the forehead is an acknowledgment of the believers’ recognition of mortality, need for God’s mercy, and personal resolve to keep a holy Lent.

In time the “shrove” or penitential part of this Tuesday shifted to the “fat” angle: merrymaking, rich foods, and “party while we still can before serious old Lent gets here.” There was a practical side to it, albeit with an edge of rationalization. People had stuff in the pantry and larder they would not be using through the seven weeks of Lent, so instead of wasting it they cooked and baked it all up on the days before the fast began. You can see how pancake suppers came into practice.

So the party emphasis won out over personal spiritual readiness. We now tend to stress: “Celebrate good times, come on; it’s a celebration!”  So two titles for the days come down to two very different approaches to the day before Ash Wednesday. One is “Live it up, it’s the last day before a long fast.” The other is “This a serious long fast ahead with a special time of penitence on its first day, so let’s start early and personally get ready.

I won’t ask you which approach appeals to you most. Pancakes are very tasty. I will just end with a light poem on the topic from years ago. Hang in there, sweet people, and let us know how you are doing, especially if you need help. The liturgies for Ash Wednesday are at 12:15 P.M. and 6:00 P.M.

Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday

The French Quarter sights smells, and sounds do enthrall

Shiny beads fly to bold ones who lift, baring all

Some churches observe Shrove Tuesday that night 

Serving pancakes: a G-rated form of delight

Some folks are shriven with penitent sorrow

They look toward ashes and prayers on the morrow 

They bare their souls; some use holy beads 

while the Holy One plants in them good Lenten seeds

But we can do both: play hard and pray well

Restless storms of our inner lives, mercy can quell

“Fat Tuesday”, “Shrove Tuesday”, whatever the name

Offers feast—spreading joy, and balm—soothing shame.

—DWP +  February 2009