Pancake Fun for Shrove Tuesday

The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Shrove Tuesday, a time of preparation before the Lenten season begins. The term "Shrove" comes from the verb "to shrive," meaning to confess and receive absolution. This day is also called Carnival (meaning "farewell to meat") and Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday").

In medieval times, households would use up rich ingredients like milk, eggs, and fat before the fasting period of Lent, leading to the tradition of making pancakes—a practice that remains popular in English-speaking countries. Other cultures celebrate with French crêpes, Russian blini, or doughnuts filled with raisins and apples in the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.

Today, many Episcopal schools keep the tradition alive with Pancake Races or Relays, bringing joy, community, and a nod to history before the solemn season of Lent begins. Chatham Hall hosted a Pancake Relay on Tuesday, March 4, with each class racing against each other to flip their pancakes. The Class of 2027 won this year. 

Students will go to Emmanuel for the Ash Wednesday service at noon today, as those of the Christian faith officially begin the 40-day Lenten devotional journey. Also, the Spiritual Life League has selected "Coming Back to Life" as our school-wide Lenten theme of renewal.