We have arrived at the final days of Shrovetide. “Shrove” is from “shrive”, “to absolve a penitent”.
On this day one customarily in earnest began to consume the leftover meat in the house, before Lent began.
Remember: once upon a time Latin Church Catholics were more serious… about everything.
Hence, today we would eat collops – slices of bacon – reserving the bacon fat for pancakes and so forth on Tuesday, when we would consume the last of the animal fats… Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras.
In this time of “carne-vale” we would, as Catholics, say “good-bye – Latin vale!” to meat.
So, have some bacon today. Perhaps bacon and eggs?
