Shrove Tuesday celebrated with food, fire
STAFF REPORTS February 12, 2013 10:32AM
Fat Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday. Paczki Day. Whatever you call it, Chicagoans celebrated the last day before Lent with food and fire.
Worshippers gathered at Holy Name Cathedral on Tuesday morning for the traditional burning of palms. The resulting ashes will be used to apply to the foreheads of the faithful on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Shrove Tuesday — “shrove” is the past tense of “shrive,” which means to hear a confession — marks the last day before the Christian period of prayer, fasting and repentance before Easter.
Under its other name — Fat Tuesday — the day also marks the last big binge before Lent.
Lines could be seen at Chicago-area bakeries as customers angled for paczkis — Polish doughnuts.
