Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday. The word "shrove" comes from "to shrive" which is defined as "to give absolution from sin," so Christians use this day to consider their spiritual state and what sins they need to repent for. It is a day of preparation for the Lenten season.

The holiday is also known as "Fat Tuesday," because housewives would use up all the fats and oils in the house because they weren't allowed during Lent.  Pancakes used a lot of oil and fat, so in Britain, Ireland, Australia, and Canada, it is also known as Pancake Tuesday.

Even though this holiday is designed to reflect on the last year, in modern days, it has become connected to the Mardi Gras celebrations.  The partying side of this holiday probably goes back to prehistoric times when there were extra days in the lunar year so that it would coincide with the solar year. All laws were considered void during these days, and the custom of parties, masked balls, and grotesque processions began. In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is celebrated every Shrove Tuesday.   Mardi Gras in French means "Fat Tuesday." In France, the custom is to serve liver paste on Shrove Tuesday because it also uses a lot of fat.