Celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday, Shrove Tuesday is the final day before the 40-day period of Lent begins. Its name comes from the Germanic-Old English word “shrive,” meaning absolve. Because it comes directly before Lent, a season of fasting and penitence, this was the day that Christians would go to be “shriven” by their confessor. Shrove Tuesday also became a day for pre-fasting indulgence. We celebrate every year with an extravagant potluck in the Parish Hall.