Carnival (Shrove Tuesday)

Common questions

When is Shrove Tuesday in 2027?

Shrove Tuesday is February 9, the last day before the quiet weeks of Lent. It's also called Carnival or Fasching.

How do Waldorf families celebrate Carnival?

Everyone dresses up before breakfast and parades through the house with a drum or a tambourine. Make pancakes, eat in costume, then go outside with pots, pans and bells to shout winter goodbye. End with a quiet supper and an early bed.

Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

'Shrove' means to confess and be forgiven, and Shrove Tuesday was the last day to use up the eggs, butter and sugar before Lent. The pancakes were practical.

What masks can children make for Carnival?

Cut masks from cereal-box cardboard: an oval for a cat, a point for a fox, a round with rays for the sun, a long face with horns for a dragon. Paint them, then add elastic.