Shrovetide

[shrohv-tahyd]

noun

1. the three days before Ash Wednesday, once a time of confession and absolution.

Shrovetide

/ ˈʃrəʊvˌtaɪd /

noun

1. the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, formerly a time when confessions were made in preparation for Lent

Word History and Origins

Origin of Shrovetide¹

First recorded in 1375–1425, Shrovetide is from the late Middle English word shroftyde. See shrove, tide ¹

Example Sentences

On his 100th birthday, he was chosen to "turn up" the ball at a centuries-old sports event, the Royal Shrovetide Football.

From BBC

The last Royal Shrovetide Football match, involving thousands of players competing to move a ball to opposite ends of the town, took place just before the pandemic took hold, in 2020.

From BBC

There are a number of events throughout the festival, one being the ritual of the burning of a Shrovetide figure.

From BBC

Probably the biggest game in the country takes place in Ashbourne where the 16-hour Royal Shrovetide Football match takes place over two days.

From BBC

It is a holdover of ancient Slavic rites of spring, which were adapted into Christianity’s timeline, linking pagan spring rituals with Shrovetide and Lent.

From The Guardian

When To Use

What is Shrovetide?

Shrovetide is the three-day period before the beginning of Lent, which is the season of fasting and penitence that precedes Easter.Shrovetide consists of Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday and is the most well-known of the days of Shrovetide due to the tradition of eating pancakes on that day. Shrove Tuesday is sometimes called Pancake Day for this reason.