Shrove Tuesday.--The old name given to the Tuesday before Ash
Wednesday, because on that day every one was accustomed to go to
the Priest before {241} beginning the observance of Lent, to be
shrived, shriven, shrove, _i.e._, to confess and be absolved. Certain
social customs have been popularly connected with this day, making
it a day of merriment and sports and dining on pancakes or
fritters. The practice of eating pancakes on this day still
survives in many places, and hence it is also called Pancake
Tuesday or Pancake Day.