Give it up for Lent

For those of you who don't know, and who may simply think - like me and the many other people that I have recently posed this question too - that it is one of those days of the year which is out there simply as an excuse to forget all your healthy eating options, stuff yourself silly, and down as many pancakes as you can handle in one sitting (pancakes that are ladled with all sorts of artery blocking scrumptious goodies like fruit juice, sugar, syrup, and cream), well, to a certain extent, you'd be right.

But it's not a day that was dreamed up by some mysterious pancake lover's sect, because it is in fact linked to a very religious Christian event, with Shrove-Tuesday being the last day before Lent.

There, so now you know... but wait.. what exactly is Lent? I hear you say.

Ah, well, now there's the thing, and if '“ again like me '“ you're not that up on religious Christian events, and just have a basic understanding of what it all means, you know...

Christmas: Three Wise Men, shepherds, no room at the inn, the Virgin Mary gives birth to Jesus in a Manger, Carol singers, tree, presents, turkey dinner..

Easter: very bad people nail Jesus to a Cross, he dies, rises from the dead and is forever immortalised...hot cross buns, chocolate eggs...

Then you may be surprised to hear that Lent, and Shrove-Tuesday are actually considered to be extremely important events on the Christian calender.

It all seems kind of complicated, to a religious simpleton like me, and on reflection I think my Religious Instruction teacher should take some responsibility for that because, not only did she never make it a subject even remotely interesting for me, or any of my class mates - apart from Jennifer Woolly who, if my memory serves me correctly was the brain of Britain at the time, and got straight 'A's for everything, including 'Domestic Science' (cooking & housekeeping) '“ but also didn't appear to be particularly bothered if we were interested or not!

Anyway, Lent and Shrove-Tuesday are actually quite interesting and, having done some research to find the answers, I think I finally get it... although I have no doubt there are far more wiser holy folk out there who will undoubtedly correct me if I am wrong.

So, pull up a pew because here's your starter for ten...

In a nutshell, my understanding of the period of time known as Lent is that it is a Christian festival...with something a bit like a New Year's resolution thrown in, in as much as it's all about giving something up, or abstaining until Lent comes to an end, which happens to be on the day before Easter Sunday, known as 'Holy Saturday'.

Lent lasts for forty days (Sundays are not included in this time period because Christians see Sundays as a day of celebration) and the reason for this is because Jesus spent forty days and nights, in the desert.

It was a pretty rotten time for Him by all accounts, because not only was He alone and without food, but He was also being tempted by the Devil.

So, each year this same period of time which is known as Lent - wherever it may fall on the Christian calender, depending on whether the moon is in Aquarius or something - is when Christians remember His suffering, and empathise by giving something up.

In fact in days gone by Christians would go completely without food (fast) during Lent - which is quite a long time to go without actually, seeing as how it lasts for a whopping forty days...er, although on reflection, I guess that's the whole point.

Nowadays though, I think it's OK to just give up Mars bars or something like that.

So, here's the thing, this is all starting to ring bells from my child-hood, and is beginning to make some sense in a roundabout fashion.

Because I can clearly recall, whenever there was an altrication with my dear 'baby' brother, when a battle of wills was raging over what to watch on TV - which invariably ended in tears - directly before we almost killed each other, and as our parents intervened and we each yelled our points of view..

"I was watching 'I Dream of Jeanie' and smelly socks over there just barged in and turned it over"...

"No, Mum, I was just sitting here quietly watching Dr Who when stupid marched in and changed it."

"Dad, he's lying"...

"No, she's lying".

...one or other of my parents could then be heard to say (along with mumblings about banging our heads together or some such threat..which I feel sure they would do time for nowadays..)

"Will you two just give it up for lent!"

Which, for some reason - that I never understood either then, or now - actually meant me...being the oldest and all somehow made it OK to go without!

Anyway, Shrove-Tuesday then, is considered to be a celebration, because it is the last chance to indulge prior to the commencement of Lent, and is an opportunity to use up foods that are 'forbidden' during Lent.

These include eggs, butter, and fat '“ which of course all go towards the making of pancakes, and which are traditionally eaten on this day.

The word 'Shrove', is derived from the ancient word 'shrive', and this means to confess.

Back in the day, the medieval Christian folk would confess their sins on Shrove Tuesday, to be sure they were forgiven before Lent started, and they could start again with a clean slate sort of thing.

But that's not all, oh no, ....directly before Shrove-Tuesday there is a three day period better known in olden days as Shrovetide.

Our medieval predecessors considered this to be a real party-time - whooping it up with games and feasts and such-like '“ and which commences on Shrove-Saturday, or 'Egg Saturday'.

This is followed by Shrove-Sunday, the fiftieth day before Easter, better known as Quinquagesima..(sober or ever so slightly merry, I challenge anyone to say that without faltering, dribbling or spitting).Why is it called this? Heaven only knows, you'll just have to take my word for it.

Shrove-Monday, or 'Collop Monday' comes next, and is named after the traditional dish served on this day, which basically consists of 'collops' (meaning pieces) of meat, mainly bacon, and eggs.

The fat that this dish subsequently produced was then used up in the making of the pancakes the following day which was non other than...Shrove-Tuesday!

And here endeth the first lesson.

Now say ten Hail Mary's and pass the maple syrup.