Pancake Day - Shrove Tuesday - Mardi Gras - Karnival - Fat Tuesday - all the same observance on the Tuesday immediately preceding Ash Wednesday - by Christians everywhere - in particular Anglicans - Lutherans - Methodists - Roman Catholics. This observance in current times no longer limited to people of these groups - Christians of numerous denominations everywhere now - officially - unofficially - preparing themselves for the beginning of Lent - eventually Easter. Today is celebrated as the last day when one may indulge in excesses - food - drink - partying - as they embrace the solemn days of Lent. In England the custom of eating pancakes - in Germany fasnachts - in Poland pączkis - in the USA - almost any pastry depending on your cultural heritage. Parties are common with fun and fellowship.
On this day - wherever one may be - time should be spent with family and friends - celebrating all that God has blessed us with - rejoicing in the lives we live - preparing ourselves through prayer - fasting - giving to others - for the days of Lent when we look inside to see who and what we are - who and what we should be - in God's eyes.
Deacon Dale
