What is Shrove Tuesday?
'''Shrove Tuesday''' is a holiday in which Christians have ash put on their heads in the shape of a cross in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[The United States]] and [[Australia]] for the day before [[Ash Wednesday]]. Ash Wednesday is the first day of the [[Christian]] season of prayer and [[wikt:fasting|fasting]] called [[Lent]]. On Shrove Tuesday people traditionally cook and eat [[Pancake|pancakes in Britain]]. The reason for this was to use up foods such as fat, eggs and milk before Lent. It is also called '''Pancake Tuesday''' or '''Pancake Day''' in Britain. In some other countries, such as the [[United States of America|United States]], it is called [[Mardi Gras]]. In some cultures it has close ties with [[Mischief night]]. {{religion-stub}} [[Category:Festivals]]