Shrove Tuesday as we know it in English, marks the last day before the traditional fast for Lent and always falls 47 days before Easter. The day is not particularly seen as a Christian festival despite its significance, but as a chance to eat and celebrate before the enforced fasting and abstinence of Lent. In many parts of the world Mardi Gras means "Carnival" (note the latin word for meat carne at the root of the word) and carnival is celebrated with extravagant parades. In more sober Dunkerque the procession is halted at the mairie where the maire and councillors pelt the crowd with smoked herring.
We Brits mark the day by using the last of winter's flour and fat to make pancakes and having silly races. The French crepe day is always 2nd February, marking 40 days since the birth of Christ and his presentation at the synagogue. Lighting candles and making galettes for the festival of Chandeleur has quite a different meaning to Shrove Tuesday, and the galettes (pancakes) are to be given to pilgrims.
Lemon or sugar (golden syrup for Val....)?
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