Shrove Tuesday—also known as Pancake Day or Mardi Gras in some places—is usually celebrated as a last‑day‑of‑feasting before the Christian season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. It blends religious preparation with fun, food‑focused customs , especially pancakes and carnival‑style events.

What people usually do

  • Eat pancakes and rich foods
    Many families make and eat pancakes at home or at church “pancake suppers,” using up eggs, milk, and fat before the Lenten fast.

In other regions people enjoy doughnuts, fritters, or other sweet treats instead of, or alongside, pancakes.

  • Attend church or spiritual practices
    Christians may go to confession or special services to “shrive” (receive absolution) and reflect on sins before Lent.

Some churches burn last year’s Palm Sunday palms to make the ashes used on Ash Wednesday.

Carnival‑style celebrations

  • Parades and street parties (Mardi Gras)
    In places like New Orleans, Shrove Tuesday is Mardi Gras , with parades, costumes, music, and beads thrown from floats.

Other cities hold carnivals or masquerade‑style events, especially in Europe and Latin America.

  • Local games and traditions
    In parts of the UK and Ireland there are pancake‑race competitions and old customs like flipping pancakes to predict marriage luck.

Some communities hold sports matches, fairs, or charity pancake events on the day.

Quick snapshot by region

Region / Country| Typical Shrove Tuesday customs
---|---
UK and Ireland| Pancake breakfasts, pancake races, church services, and family meals. 169
USA (especially New Orleans)| Mardi Gras parades, costumes, beads, and large street parties. 310
Belgium (Binche)| Carnival with costumed “Gilles” throwing oranges to crowds. 3
Many other Christian countries| Church services, confession, feasting on pancakes or local sweets, and preparing Lenten sacrifices. 135

In short, Shrove Tuesday is usually celebrated as a mix of repentance and revelry : a final feast (often with pancakes), church‑based preparation for Lent, and, in many places, lively carnival‑style festivities.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.