Pancake day!

February 17, 2015 1 By Mirm

Traditions are the things we do all the time and eventually pass on to the next generation. They can be good or bad, ruts or memorials, fun routines or boring rituals. Sometimes we do things in a certain way for do long that we forget the reason and the meaning for doing it. What are some of your favorite traditions? Why do you keep them? How do you traditionally celebrate Easter? This booklet is filled with meaningful ideas that might become traditions for you and your family (or you may think of other ideas).

We are not in the habit of celebrating the tradition of Lent in our church, primarily because we see it as a catholic, high church or Lutheran tradition.  So, let’s make a tradition of our own. Rather than giving up something or doing without, which may have no meaning and we’ll probably resume after Easter – Let’s Do Something! Lent is not about doing without. It’s about getting our lives in order; it’s about making new habits that please the Lord! You can think of it like making resolutions at the new year. What do you need to work on? What would you like to start? Easter is the time of new beginnings, so there is no better time to get in tune with the Spirit!

Shrove Tuesday is an old custom or tradition. It is a day of feasting before lent. This celebration has different names. To some it is called carnival, which means “goodbye to meat”, because some people do not eat meat during lent. To others it is called shrove Tuesday because some people go to the priest to confess their sins, or to be shriven. In France it is called Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, and the people use up all the butter and fat in their homes. In England this day is called Pancake day and the people make pancakes until all the eggs and milk in the house are gone! In other countries people eat donuts and crullers, deeply fried in fat. In Poland they make Paczkis, like a jelly donut, full of the richest ingredients. The point is to get ready for a time of fasting, which is easier to do without foods and meat in the house. Being merry and celebrating while “eating it all up” became the custom of Shrove Tuesday. Today people are often challenged to give up something they really enjoy for the 40 days of Lent, to prepare them for the holiest day of the year. What would you be willing to give up?