Lent

=== Pre-Lenten observances ===
{{Main|Pre-Lent|Carnival}}
During [[pre-Lent]], it is customary for Christians to ponder what [[Lenten sacrifice]]s they will make for Lent.<ref name="JKelvey2018">{{cite web |last1=Kelvey |first1=Jon |title=Strawbridge United Methodist keeps Shrove Tuesday pancake tradition |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/cc-shrove-tuesday-pancakes-20180213-story.html |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |access-date=25 February 2020 |language=en |date=13 February 2018}}</ref>

The pre-Lenten period concludes with the opportunity for a last round of merrymaking, known as [[Carnival]], [[Shrovetide]], or [[Fastelavn]], before the start of the sombre Lenten season. The traditions of carrying Shrovetide rods and consuming Shrovetide buns after attending church is celebrated.<ref name="ELCD2021">{{cite web |title=Shrovetide|url=https://www.lutheranchurch.dk/liturgy-and-worship/festivals-and-traditions/shrovetide |publisher=[[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark]] |access-date=8 February 2021 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="Beadle1994">{{cite book|last=Beadle|first=Richard|title=The Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Theatre|date=17 March 1994|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521459167|page=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani00rich_1/page/69 69]|quote=One of these was the pre-Lent Carnival extravaganza of Shrovetide, though this seems to have been celebrated to a much lesser extent in Britain than it was (and still is) on the continent: however, we know of English Shrovetide plays, and ''Mankind'' bears signs of being one of them (''335'').|url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani00rich_1/page/69}}</ref>

On the final day of the season, [[Shrove Tuesday]] or [[Mardi Gras]], many traditional Christians, such as [[Catholics]], [[Lutherans]], [[Anglicans]],  and [[Methodists]] "make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with."<ref name="Thaler2020">{{cite web |last1=Thaler |first1=Shmuel |title=Lunch marks beginning of Lent |url=https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/02/26/photo-lunch-marks-beginning-of-lent/ |publisher=[[Santa Cruz Sentinel]] |access-date=8 March 2021 |language=English |date=26 February 2020 |quote=Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics who make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God’s help in dealing with.}}</ref><ref name="Walker2011">{{cite web|url=http://articles.dailyamerican.com/2011-03-07/news/29155052_1_pancake-dinner-pancake-day-shrove|title=Shrove Tuesday inspires unique church traditions|last=Walker|first=Katie|date=7 March 2011|publisher=Daily American|access-date=4 January 2016|quote=Many local churches will celebrate Shrove Tuesday tomorrow, a day of feasting commonly known as “pancake day.” Shrove Tuesday is typically observed by Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and Catholic denominations, but each church celebrates the day in its own, unique way. The Rev. Lenny Anderson of the St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Somerset said the primary focus of Shrove Tuesday is to prepare for Lent, the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter.|archive-date=14 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214030411/http://articles.dailyamerican.com/2011-03-07/news/29155052_1_pancake-dinner-pancake-day-shrove|url-status=dead}}</ref> During Shrovetide, many churches place a basket in the [[narthex]] to collect the previous year's [[Holy Week]] palm branches that were blessed and distributed during the [[Palm Sunday]] liturgies; on Shrove Tuesday, churches burn these [[Palm branch|palms]] to make the ashes used during the services held on the very next day, Ash Wednesday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shrove Tuesday |url=https://www.timesreporter.com/news/20200218/good-day |publisher=[[The Times-Reporter]] |access-date=4 April 2020 |language=en |date=18 February 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806074002/https://www.timesreporter.com/news/20200218/good-day |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In historically [[Lutheran]] nations, Shrovetide is known as [[Fastelavn]]. After attending the [[Mass (liturgy)#Lutheranism|Mass]] on [[Shrove Sunday]], congregants enjoy Shrovetide buns (fastelavnsboller), "round sweet buns that are covered with icing and filled with cream and/or jam."<ref name="ELCD2021"/> Children often dress up and collect money from people while singing.<ref name="ELCD2021"/> They also practice the tradition of hitting a barrel, which represents fighting Satan; after doing this, children enjoy the sweets inside the barrel.<ref name="ELCD2021"/> Lutheran Christians in these nations carry Shrovetide rods (fastelavnsris), which "branches decorated with sweets, little presents, etc., that are used to decorate the home or give to children."<ref name="ELCD2021"/>

In English-speaking countries such as the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Canada]], the day before Lent is known as Shrove Tuesday, which is derived from the word ''shrive'', meaning "to administer the sacrament of [[Confession (religion)|confession]] to; to absolve."<ref name="Melitta Weiss Adamson, Francine Segan 2008">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PPDIx6WWuOQC&q=Anglican+Mardi+Gras&pg=PA354|title=Entertaining from Ancient Rome to the Super Bowl|author=Melitta Weiss Adamson, Francine Segan|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|year=2008|isbn=9780313086892|quote=In Anglican countries, Mardis Gras is known as ''Shrove Tuesday''—from ''shrive'' meaning "confess"—or ''Pancake Day''—after the breakfast food that symbolizes one final hearty meal of eggs, butter, milk and sugar before the fast. On Ash Wednesday, the morning after Mardi Gras, repentant Christians return to church to receive upon the forehead the sign of the cross in ashes.}}</ref> In these countries, [[pancakes]] are associated with Shrove Tuesday because they are a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar – rich foods which are not eaten during the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pancake Day: Why Shrove Tuesday is a thing |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-43044272 |website=BBC News |access-date=17 February 2021 |date=25 February 2020}}</ref>

The Carnival celebrations which in many cultures traditionally precede Lent are seen as a last opportunity for excess before Lent begins. Some of the most famous are the [[Carnival of Barranquilla]], the [[Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], the [[Carnival of Venice]], [[Cologne Carnival]], the [[New Orleans Mardi Gras]], the [[Rio de Janeiro carnival]], and the [[Trinidad and Tobago Carnival]].{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In stark contrast to traditions of merrymaking and feasting, Oriental Orthodox Churches practice a pre-Lenten fast in preparation for Lent which is immediately followed by the fast of Great Lent without interruption.