Shrove Sunday

American  

noun

1. the Sunday before Ash Wednesday; Quinquagesima.

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Usage

What is Shrove Sunday? Shrove Sunday is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday and the first of the three days of Shrovetide. Shrovetide is the three-day period before the beginning of Lent, which is the season of fasting and penitence that precedes Easter. Shrovetide starts on Shrove Sunday is followed by Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday is the most well-known of the three days due to being the day before Ash Wednesday and because of its association with the tradition of eating pancakes on that day (it is sometimes called Pancake Day for this reason). Shrove Sunday is sometimes called Quinquagesima or Quinquagesima Sunday.

Etymology

Origin of Shrove Sunday

First recorded in 1425–75, Shrove Sunday is from the late Middle English word shrofsunday. See shrove, Sunday

Example Sentences

"Shrove Sunday has its range between the 1st of February and the 7th of March."

From Notes and Queries, Number 190, June 18, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George

But, at last, he judged that all would be in readiness on the 20th of February, Shrove Sunday.

From The Honor of the Name by Gaboriau, Émile

The next week, being our first week of Lent, or our cleansing week, beginning our Shrove Sunday, they make and keep a great fast.

From Discovery of Muscovy by Hakluyt, Richard

They were tall and powerfully built, and indeed, as it was Shrove Sunday, I first of all took them for men in disguise.

From Monsieur Lecoq by Gaboriau, Émile

"He must have disguised himself to take part in the Shrove Sunday carnival."

From Monsieur Lecoq by Gaboriau, Émile