Reg Davison of the Church of the Nazerene writes

Next Tuesday, February 24, is Shrove Tuesday, followed by Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. What do I remember about Shrove Tuesday? The pancakes — we always enjoyed the pancakes, made specially on Shrove Tuesday.

As an apprentice in engineering and other trades, it was customary for every apprentice to finish work at 11am. They would dash out of work and have the rest of the day off as a holiday, this was part of the celebration on Shrove Tuesday.

This practice was carried on until 1944 when it was stopped, probably because of the war effort in keeping production going. As far as I know that was the tradition, perhaps they still do it in some parts of the country.

The word Shrove comes from the verb to shrive, or to give absolution from sin.

On Shrove Tuesdays sins were confessed and absolution given in preparation for the solemn season of Lent.

One last treat.

For hundreds of years — till nearly the end of the 19th century — the “pancake bell” rang loud and clear and persistently on Shrove Tuesday, it reminded everyone that it was time for church — to confess their sins; it was time to down tools. Shrove Tuesday was a holiday, it was time to start making pancakes.

In days gone by, everyone made the most of Shrove Tuesday.

After all Lent would begin the next day and all kinds of pleasure would be forbidden, for the next six weeks.

Any eggs, butter and other good things left in the larder were make into pancakes so that everyone could enjoy one last treat and no forbidden foods would be left as a temptation during Lent.

Anyone could ring the church bells on Shrove Tuesday, so there was a great demand to “have a go” and the pancake bell got little rest.

Holidays and feasts were few and far between and always came by courtesy of the Christian festivals.

Prayer — Thank you Lord for the fun and festivities as well as the solemn part of our Christian faith.

Help us to keep the right balance between the two. Amen!