What is Shrove Tuesday?
Wikipedia explains that:
Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake day) is the day in February or March immediately preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. In others this is a carnival day, and also the last day of “fat eating” or “gorging” before the fasting period of Lent.
This moveable feast is determined by Easter. The expression “Shrove Tuesday” comes from the word shrive, meaning “absolve“. Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians 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.”
Being the last day of the liturgical season historically known as Shrovetide, before the penitential season of Lent, related popular practices, such as indulging in food that one sacrifices for the upcoming forty days, are associated with Shrove Tuesday celebrations, before commencing the fasting and religious obligations associated with Lent.
What does it mean to the Waterfall?
As a charity that aims to bring hope and restoration to women wanting to overcome addiction, and a charity with Christian roots, we see Shrove Tuesday and the proceeding period of Lent as an important time.
Sometimes we all over indulge and when things aren’t going well we can find ourselves using food, shopping, gambling, alcohol or other substances as an attempt to feel better. When relationships start to break down and we rely more heavily on these coping strategies we can find ourselves on a downward spiral, distancing ourselves from human connection and sinking deeper towards a place of addiction.
Anyone that has had an addiction problem will know how difficult it is to break. It can take years of hard work, will involve a painful process of change and involves self reflection. Looking at ourselves, our relationships, our behaviour and choices is not easy. And without support can lead us to be over critical to the point of hating oneself.
The Waterfall Trust aims to support women struggling with addiction, to bring hope and restoration and guide women away from self loathing and other equally destructive thinking patterns. As an inclusive charity we welcome women seeking support, from all backgrounds, abilities, faiths and ethnic groups. Women-only projects help those who repeatedly enter destructive relationships (with people or substances) to address the roots and triggers of their behaviours without distraction.
Lent
Are you considering sacrificing something for the next 40 days? Would you consider giving something up and being sponsored to do so to raise money for the Waterfall Trust?
As a charity we also rely upon our supporters to financially support our work. We are not funded by the state so rely on people like you to help us. Could you give up chocolate for 40 days? Maybe alcohol would be more of a challenge? How about meat? Or coffee? Or your mobile phone?
Please consider challenging yourself for us and raising funds to help us.
You could set up a sponsorship page for us here and ask for sponsorship from friends and family members to recognise your efforts.
