Short post, dorky topic

So, I was on the way home from Mass last Sunday, talking to Karen about Lent coming up.  It's been a bit of a topic of conversation because I'm doing a modification of the beer fast that some Benedictines used to do, so I actually had to start preparing about 2 months ago to get the beer ready (Dopplebock based on the Part Time Monk's recipe.  Look him up... he did a full beer fast for all of Lent, and wrote some interesting stuff about it.  I can't quite go that far... I don't think beer for breakfast or lunch would go over so well when you combine it with teaching.

In any case, the conversation was about preparing for the season where we prepare for Easter, and that was kind of funny.  It turned in the direction of Mardi Gras, and then Shrove Tuesday.  I'm a bit of an etymology geek, so I wondered out loud what 'shrove' meant.  I just assumed it was an old word for some form of fat or fatty food.

The conversation with Google Now to find out was kind of funny.

'OK Google:  What is the definition of shrove'
'Drove, the past tense of drive'
'No Google, what is the definition of SHHHROVE'
'Shrove, the past tense of shrive'
'Thanks for nothing Google'

Turns out to be 'shriven' is to receive absolution.  Shrive would be to hear confession and give absolution.  A little more research and we found out that tradition was to go to confession before Lent started, so the prayer and fasting could happen with a clean slate to work with.  Shrove Tuesday was the end of the season of Shrovetide (I'm not making this up... ask Wikipedia!).  You'd go to confession, then have a celebration before the fasting begins.

Turns out my preparing for the season of preparation wasn't so crazy.

There's no other point to this post, I'm just a bit of a geek about things like this.  Now I'm done nerding out.  Bon Mardi Gras tout le monde!

Also, for some Ash Wednesday fun (is that a thing?) head on over and sign up for Back That Ash Up!