Shrove Tuesday Is Days Away—What Are Your Plans?
Text Stewart Johnson Photo Estonian Open Air Museum / Kristjan Sulõnd
More precisely, what even is Shrove Tuesday? We’ll get to that. The important thing is that it’s a popular Estonian tradition to celebrate this day by sledding, eating Shrovetide buns, and eating pea soup. While the actual day is Tuesday, 17 February, many events happen on the weekend before or after, as people go to work and school. If you want the full Estonian experience, your best bet is to head to the Estonian Open Air Museum this Sunday, 15 February.
The Estonian Open Air Museum not only celebrates the traditional form of vastlapäev, which is the Estonian word for Shrove Tuesday, but they also demonstrate how the Orthodox Christian tradition of Maslenitsa is celebrated. This holiday, while also based on pre-Lenten traditions, lasts an entire week, and it’s basically about eating as much as you can before the fast of Lent.
The museum is very large, and is spread out over several different venues, each with its own set of activities for Shrove Tuesday. There will be children’s games, sledding, traditional hair-styling, and an ice carousel. “Red drinks” for the ladies, pea soup, pancakes, and of course Shrovetide buns are also available. And what would Shrove Tuesday be without riding in a horse-drawn carriage? This fun form of public transportation is available throughout the grounds of the museum, but sadly you’ll have to take a bus to get there from the city if you don’t arrive by car. Keep in mind parking is limited.
Read here to see the full list of activities at the Estonian Open Air Museum for Shrove Tuesday on Sunday.
Now for the educational part: what is Shrove Tuesday? Outside of Northern Europe, it’s often known by other names. In the UK it’s called Pancake Day, and in much of the rest of the world it’s known as…Mardi gras! Or Fat Tuesday in English. It’s the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of the fast of Lent, which lasts for 40 days and symbolises the temptation of Jesus while out in the wilderness. Although it’s not obviously connected to the crucifixion in religious texts, the modern celebration always coincides with the arrival of Easter, at least in terms of preparing believers for this important Christian holiday.
Modern tradition however basically just means fun, and saying goodbye to winter.
To learn more about this and similar topicsEstonian Culture Estonian Open Air Museum Estonian tradition Events in Tallinn Shrovetide buns Shrove Tuesday sledding Vastlapäev
