8. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day in many countries.
7. The day gets its name from the old English word “shrive” which means to confess one’s sins and receive absolution.
6. Shrove Tuesday falls on the day before the start of Lent, which is a period of fasting and abstinence for Christians.
Pancakes are eaten on Shrove Tuesday because they were a way to use up ingredients such as flour, sugar, and eggs that were traditionally given up during Lent.
4. In some parts of the world, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated with other traditions, such as Mardi Gras or Carnival.
3. In the United Kingdom, there is a tradition of pancake races, where people run while flipping pancakes in a frying pan.
2. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Fastelavn in Denmark, where children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door collecting sweets.
1. In some countries, such as Finland and Sweden, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated by eating a special type of pastry called a semla.