Shrove comes from the verb “to shrive” which means to confess one’s sins and receive absolution in preparation for a Holy Lent. Shrove Tuesday is known by other names such as: Fat Tuesday, Fastnacht (Donut) Day, Mardi Gras and Pancake Day. Each custom is related to the way people consume much of the soon-to-be-forbidden food of Lent: meats, eggs, fats and milk.

In England a curious game developed among women: they would listen for the church bell to ring, and then grabbing their frying pan with griddle cakes on it, would run for the church, flipping them three times as they hurried down the street. The first woman to arrive received the vicar’s blessing. A worship service was soon held, and the bellringers received the pancakes. A church bell rung on this day came to be called the pancake bell.

Lent is also a time we customarily drop the use of “Alleluia” in our spoken liturgy. As we move to the cross and tomb we are challenged to believe life can come forth from that which appears dead. Two intergenerational faith formation opportunities arise: Burying “Alleluias” and making butterflies and putting them in cocoons. Each later get resurrected or set free on Easter.

The intergenerational evening is built around a Pancake Supper and Race. As people arrive they are invited to colorfully decorate Alleluia Banners or small butterflies. We usually do one or the other, not both. The Banners and butterflies have a chance to dry while everyone feasts on Pancakes and sausage. As people are finishing up they are free to go back to their project. The butterflies are mounted on pop sickle sticks, rolled and inserted into empty toilet paper rolls, then wrapped with tissue paper and ribbons so they look like candies. We then put them in a box and save them until Easter. The “Alleluias” are placed in a box and “buried” (hidden in the church). We usually sing a hymn filled with “Alleluias” as this is done. The “Alleluias” remain hidden until Easter.

 
Back in the Parish Hall the fun begins. Teams are formed by age brackets (whatever makes sense for your church). When the Rector rings the bell, the racers take off across the Parish Hall (only fast walking allowed) flipping their flapjacks three times in remembrance of the Trinity. If a flipper’s flapjack falls to the ground they must pick it up and go back to the starting line. The first flipper to cross the finish line gets a prize.


We always have a flip-off for the grand prize with the top contender from each age bracket joining the race. The winner gets the big prize – usually a new frying pan or a box of pancake mix. Spatulas make good first round prizes. The flip-off is rather fascinating. More than once I watched one of our older members slow their pace to let a young child win.

This event became so popular that non-flipping participants asked for a way to get involved too! When we learned that the British women usually wore headscarves and aprons in the traditional race, we added a “Wild & Crazy” Apron Contest the following year. We had three divisions: “Classic Apron,” “Wild & Crazy” and “People Choice.” The older generations really got into this and weren’t shy about parading around the Parish Hall and modeling their “Wild & Crazy” Aprons if it meant taking home the prize!

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