Lenten Customs

The lead-in to Easter was traditionally of huge significance in the Irish Christian calendar. The Easter period still begins with the festival of Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Tuesday or, in Latin countries, Mardi Gras (literally, “Fat Tuesday”). Pancakes are widely consumed in Ireland on this day.

Meat, eggs, and dairy were once prohibited during Lent, so people were keen to use them up before Ash Wednesday; pancakes were a good way of doing this.

Many European countries mark a period of carnival and festivities before the period of penance and fasting that begins with Ash Wednesday, when ashes are put on a believer’s forehead as a sign of repentance to God. This carnival period appears to be pre-Christian in origin, marking the beginning of the Spring season, with references to the Roman Lupercalia found throughout historical writings. The festival was incorporated by the Christian Church in the late 16th century.