Shrove Tuesday Pancakes at St. James Episcopal

Hot pancakes will be on the griddle at 6 pm Tuesday, Feb. 21, at St. James Episcopal Church, 600 High Street, Antlers, to mark Shrove Tuesday. Waffles, bacon, and sausage will also be served.

A service the next day at 6:00 pm observes Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The dates of Ash Wednesday and Lent are determined by the date of Easter.

All are invited to share the church service, fellowship, and food. St. James Church has members from Antlers, Clayton, Snow, Moyers, Corinne, and Texas.

Lent covers about six weeks before Easter and commemorates the 40 days when the Gospels say Jesus fasted in the desert before his crucifixion on Good Friday. During Lent, many commit to fasting or give up certain food or luxuries as a form of penitence. Christians may add spiritual disciplines during Lent such as daily devotional readings to draw closer to God.

The word “Shrove” comes from the English word “shrive” or confess and refers to Christians confessing their sins to a priest to prepare for Lent.

Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, and Carnival are observed the same day in Christian countries around the world. The night before fasting during Lent begins, a feast was held to use up fat, sugar, eggs, and milk.

Shrove came from a word referring to the confession of sins as a preparation for Lent, a practice in Europe in the Middle Ages.

Pancake races are held in Great Britain and Ireland. Competitors, usually housewives in apron, run with frying pans and flip pancakes during the race.