Today, Shrove Thursday is celebrated throughout Italy, the day that officially kicks off the Carnival celebrations. This is a deeply felt tradition, especially in cities like Venice. But why is it called that? And what are the customs and foods linked to this day? Let’s discover them together.
The origin of the name and the history of Shrove Thursday
Fat Thursday is the first day of celebration of the Roman Carnival and is spent in the spirit of abundance before fasting. It is, in fact, the last Thursday before the start of the period of Lent, the 40 days before Easter during which – according to Christian tradition – penance and fasting should be followed, in particular from meat and fish.
The name therefore derives from the ancient habit of organizing rich banquets – with fatty meats and sweets – and indulging in treats in the days preceding Lent. The period of Carnival celebrations will end on Shrove Tuesday, which this year falls on February 17th.
Curiosities and traditional foods
However, Shrove Thursday does not officially inaugurate Carnival throughout Italy. For example, in Milan the Ambrosian calendar is in force and not the Roman one. Here Lent begins on the first Sunday following Ash Wednesday, so Shrove Thursday will be celebrated on March 19th.
But what are the foods that cannot be missed on Italian tables on Shrove Thursday? Among the desserts, the traditional chiacchiere (also called frappe or crostoni depending on the different areas), castagnole,gliaccio (the much-loved Campanian dessert made with ricotta and semolina) and Neapolitan black pudding stand out. In Florence, however, they eat berlingozzo, the characteristic orange-scented donut.
What are the typical Shrove Thursday dishes in your area?
