Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Night in Ireland
How do I love pancakes? let me count the ways. I love it every morning, afternoon and the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday too. My pancakes rolled into a cigar shape sprinkled with lemon and sugar; for me to eat like sweets too. I love it when kids come to school and boast of their feast. Most interesting is this culture in Ireland before they celebrate Lent. This Irish culture is as interesting as the history of their Irish flag.
The word shrove means obtaining absolution by means of confession and doing penance. The week before Lent is called Shrovetide; a week to prepare oneself for penitence. Shrove Tuesday is the last day of Shrovetide and is also known as pancake night. People overindulged but were not expected to; knowing that they will be abstaining for the next forty days.
During the middle ages, thrifty housewives in Ireland would cook all perishable food which was forbidden for the next forty days. The housewives would prepare milk, butter and eggs to make pancakes. The Catholic Church forbade the consumption of eggs, dairy products and meat during the 40-day Lenten period.
Aside from fattening up the night before Ash Wednesday, matchmakers were busy before the Lenten season. Traditionally, marriages in Ireland were not allowed during the Lenten season. The Babhdir or the matchmaker is busy during this marrying season in Ireland. The objective was to find a suitable mate before Shrove Tuesday, these marriages are all arranged. it may sound unromantic, but given the fact that they grew up together justifies the fact that some feelings have been established way before the arrangement. if a daughter from a certain household was unable to find a mate, would be given the chance to toss the first cake; in hopes that she will have better luck for the next year, depending on how good they toss their first cake.
