PSALM 51
Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day is the day before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. The name Shrove comes from the old middle English word ‘Shriven’ meaning to go to confession to say sorry for the wrong things we have done.
The other name for this day, Pancake Day, comes from the old English custom of using up all the fattening ingredients in the house before Lent, so that people were ready to fast during Lent. The fattening ingredients that most people had in their houses in those days were eggs and milk. A very simple recipe to use up these ingredients was to combine them with some flour and make pancakes.
This day is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics, who make it a special time of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent of, and what areas of spiritual growth they need to achieve.
The ritual burning of the previous year’s Holy Week palms is also done on this day.
Like King David in our text, let us come to God this day and realign our lives with His divine will.
Photo: Mae Mu
