Shrove Monday

Categories:: Religious
Tags:: Christian Festivities
Where:: International
Date change rule:: Monday before Ash Wednesday
Holiday emoji:: 🎭

Shrove Monday kicks off the final week of pre-Lenten celebrations every year, leading up to Ash Wednesday. Also known as Collop Monday, it’s a day for vibrant carnival parades, festive gatherings, and a last burst of indulgence before the solemnity of Lent. Join in the merriment by attending a local parade, preparing traditional foods, or simply embracing the festive spirit.

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Expected Shrove Monday Deals

As Shrove Monday ushers in the carnival season, expect to see promotions centered around celebration and indulgence. Retailers like Party City will likely offer discounts on costumes, decorations, and party supplies for those hosting pre-Lenten festivities. Local bakeries and grocery stores, such as Whole Foods Market and Kroger, will feature ingredients for traditional rich foods like pancakes, fritters, and fatty meats. Restaurants, especially those with a festive atmosphere, might run specials on indulgent meals and desserts. Travel agencies, including Expedia and Booking.com, may highlight deals for destinations famous for their carnival celebrations, like New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as February approaches.

Platform Guide for Shrove Monday

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #ShroveMonday. Share short videos of your favorite carnival costumes, parade highlights, or indulgent pre-Lenten recipes.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #ShroveMonday. Post vibrant photos of festive decorations, traditional foods, or your Shrove Monday celebrations with friends and family.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #ShroveMonday. Share local carnival event listings, community parade photos, or discuss your favorite pre-Lenten traditions.

Shrove Monday Hero

The Carnival Fool

The figure of the Fool or Jester is a timeless archetype in carnival and Shrove Monday celebrations, embodying playful subversion and temporary chaos before order is restored. Rooted in ancient traditions of satire and social commentary, the Fool allows for a brief inversion of societal norms. This character, often depicted in vibrant, mismatched attire, encourages revelry and reminds observers of the fleeting nature of indulgence before the solemnity of Lent begins.

History of Shrove Monday

Shrove Monday is a Christian holiday held before the beginning of Lent. “Shrove” is the past tense of the English verb ‘shrive,’ which means ‘to be absolved of one’s sins through confession and forgiveness.’ So, the name Shrovetide comes from the shriving English Christians were expected to perform to receive absolution before Lent began. Collopy Monday is named after the traditional dish of the day, which consists of slices of leftover meat (collops of bacon) and eggs. It is traditionally eaten for breakfast as part of the Lenten preparations. In addition to providing some meat, collops also provided the fat for Shrove Tuesday’s pancakes. It is rarely observed nowadays.

Shrove Monday is part of the German, Danish, and Austrian Carnival calendar, called ‘Rosenmontag.’ In the Rhineland, the holiday is part of the pre-Lenten ‘Fasching’ festival or the ‘Feast of Fools,’ a time for breaking the rules, poking fun at those who make them, and making your own new rules. The festival features marching bands, boisterous revelries, and satirical floats.

Since the late 20th century, the Shrove Monday celebrations of the New Orleans and Mississippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras, which date back to the 19th century, have been known as ‘Lundi Gras’ or ‘Fat Monday.’ It’s a party with music, food, and drink on three stages. Shrove Monday is a national holiday in Aruba, and it’s used to recover from the festivities of Carnival before beginning Lent fasts.

Shrove Monday timeline

12th Century

The Royal Shrovetide Football Match

Henry II starts the trend of an annual traditional football match that is different from modern-day football.

19th Century

The Celebrations in the Caribbean

Trinidad and Tobago Carnivals first celebrate Shrove Monday in the Caribbean.

19th Century

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras

Carnival celebrations to mark Shrove Monday begins in Mississippi, U.S.

20th Century

The New Name

Mississippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras is renamed Lundi Gras or Fat Monday.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Shrove Monday

Local businesses can embrace the festive spirit of Shrove Monday by offering special promotions and events. Restaurants might create a ‘Pre-Lenten Feast’ menu featuring rich, traditional dishes or host a themed costume party. Bakeries can highlight indulgent pastries, pancakes, and ‘collops’ (slices of meat) for customers to enjoy before the Lenten fast. Party supply stores should stock up on colorful decorations, masks, and costumes, perhaps even offering a ‘Carnival Kit’ for home celebrations. Engaging with local parade organizers or sponsoring a float can also boost community involvement and visibility.

Shrove Monday FAQs

When is Shrove Monday?

Shrove Monday in 2027 will be observed on Monday, February 8. This day kicks off the pre-Lenten carnival season, encouraging a last burst of celebration before the fasting period.

How many people celebrate carnival?

Globally, carnival festivities leading up to Lent are a significant cultural event for an estimated 500 million people. These celebrations vary widely but share a common theme of joyful indulgence before the solemnity of the Lenten season.

What is the history of Shrove Monday?

The traditions of Shrove Monday can be traced back centuries, evolving from pagan fertility rites and Roman Saturnalia into a Christian observance. It served as a final opportunity for communities to use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk, and fat before the 40 days of Lenten fasting began.

What is the difference between Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday?

The primary distinction lies in their timing and specific traditions. Shrove Monday initiates the final week of carnival, often with parades and the use of up meats. Shrove Tuesday, the very last day before Ash Wednesday, is famously associated with consuming pancakes to use up eggs and fat before the Lenten fast.

How to Observe Shrove Monday

Feast on collop and eggs
Start Shrove Monday by feasting on the traditional meal of collop and eggs. A collop of bacon may be eaten with beans and vegetables to add more flavor to the dish. This is the best way to start the celebrations!
Attend a carnival
Find out if there are any carnivals on Shrove Monday located close to your area. You may even dress up in costumes or participate in the festivities as a spectator. Shrove Monday carnivals are a stunning sight.
Start preparing for Lent
After you are done celebrating Shrove Monday, you could start preparing for Lent. Devout Christians prepare for Lent by confessing, fasting, giving up certain food items, and praying more.

5 Intriguing Facts About Shrove Monday

Politicians are mocked
Shrove Monday features parades and events where politicians are mocked.
It includes a day for eating meat
Shrove Monday is a day for people to consume all of the meat in their homes, so it doesn't spoil over the next 40 days of Lent.
Carnivals and Shrove Mondays are synonymous
Some of the world’s largest and most famous carnival celebrations take place in New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Venice.
‘Collop’ doesn’t always mean bacon
Any fatty piece of meat may be referred to as ‘collop’ and consumed on Shrove Monday.
It also marks the start of spring
Shrove Monday marks the beginning of Spring in the Greek Orthodox calendar.

Why Shrove Monday is Important

A celebration of age-old traditions
Shrove Monday is celebrated with The Royal Shrovetide Football Match dating back to the 12th Century. Ancient traditions like these make Shrove Monday an important historical observation while keeping old traditions alive.
A time of merry-making
Shrove Monday is celebrated with carnivals, parades, and floats. People dress up, indulge in satire, and drink and eat to celebrate. Shrove Monday is a perfect holiday to spend some fun times with your loved ones.
A celebration of rare foods
Shrove Monday, in a way, also celebrates foods that are increasingly becoming rare. Also known as Collop Monday and Peasen Monday, this is a good opportunity to celebrate collop bacon and eggs, and pea soup.