Shrove Tuesday

American  

[shrohv tooz-dey, -dee, tyooz-] / ˈʃroʊv ˈtuz deɪ, -di, ˈtyuz- /

noun

1. the last day of Shrovetide, once observed as a time of confession and absolution, later as a season of merrymaking before Lent.

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Shrove Tuesday British  

noun

1. the last day of Shrovetide; Pancake Day

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Usage

What is Shrove Tuesday? Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday in some Christian traditions. It is the last day of Shrovetide, the three-day period before the beginning of Lent, which is the season of fasting and penitence that precedes Easter. Shrovetide also includes Shrove Sunday and Shrove Monday. Shrove Tuesday is sometimes called Pancake Day due to the tradition of eating pancakes on that day. The day before Ash Wednesday can also be called Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday).

Etymology

Origin of Shrove Tuesday

First recorded in 1490–1500

Example Sentences

On Monday night Herr Lopez invited me to the great banquet on Shrove-Tuesday, which lasted till two o'clock, and was very costly.

From Albert Durer by Moore, T. Sturge

Shrove-Tuesday, all cased in in hams, was astride of a roe whose many-branched antlers were loaded with partridges.

From The Iron Pincers or Mylio and Karvel A Tale of the Albigensian Crusades by Sue, Eugène

You snatched from my mouth dishes that cost me nothing, because, if Shrove-Tide was toothsomely armed, Shrove-Tuesday was no less so.

From The Iron Pincers or Mylio and Karvel A Tale of the Albigensian Crusades by Sue, Eugène

The evening before Shrove-Tuesday the newly created minister was sitting in his palace; he was thoughtful, and seemed to be awaiting the arrival of someone.

From Count Br?hl by Kraszewski, Jo?zef Ignacy

You woke me up at the very moment when, Shrove-Tide succumbing to the blows of Shrove-Tuesday, I was on the point of eating both the vanquished and the vanquisher!

From The Iron Pincers or Mylio and Karvel A Tale of the Albigensian Crusades by Sue, Eugène