Shrove Tuesday is a term used mainly in the U.K. and Canada and comes from the word "shrive" shich means to confess. Since the middle ages people were encouraged to confess before Lent began. In the french language it is MARDI GRAS (grease or fat Tuesday). Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent (and the the day by which time all fats and cream had to be used up, hence the making of pancakes). It is a time for celebration and penitence before Lent begins.
Lent begins on ASH Wednesday, the day after Shrove Tuesday. Lent lasts for forty days (not including Sundays) and ends the day before Easter Sunday (March 23, 2008). The forty days marks the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering through the desert and the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert.
During Lent Christians would fast as a way to remember the 40 days that Jesus spent alone while fasting and facing temptation by the devil.
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