So the consensus seems to be that the group will meet for pancakes at IHOP, on Blake Lane in Fairfax -- At 7:30 Tuesday evening, February 17. Why pancakes? Why "Shrove Tuesday?" As we discussed last time, this is an old custom in northern European Christian churches, especially (the southern celebration being "Mardi Gras" or "Fat Tuesday") -- the old custom was that during Lent people would fast from meat, fat, eggs and dairy products -- so the night before Ash Wednesday, when Lent began, was a time to have a great feast to use up all those ingredients that would not be consumed during Lent. Hence pancake suppers on Shrove Tuesday. (It's called Shrove Tuesday after the word "shrive/shriven" -- meaning to be given forgiveness and absolution from one's sins, referring to the Catholic custom of making a confession the day before Lent begins in preparation for the season of penitence.
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