Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras refers to the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

“Shrove” is past tense of the English verb “shrive,” which means to obtain absolution for one’s sins.

It is sometimes called Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday, since it is customary to eat pancakes today. Another traditional food is sweet fried dumplings. In New Orleans it’s king cake.