Lent began on Feb. 22 with the distribution of ashes in churches throughout the North Allegheny area, including St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church on McAleer Road in Franklin Township. The church also hosted a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper the day before on Feb. 21.
Shrove Tuesday is a traditional day of feasting the day before the arrival of Lent, which is a 40-day period of denial, prayer and reflection for Christians in preparation for Easter. Pancakes were served on Shrove Tuesday because they used up ingredients that were at one time forbidden during Lent.
The Twitter Lent Tracker operated by OpenBible.info tracks the number of mentions of Lent during the week of Ash Wednesday and what people are “giving up” for the next 40 days. It then compiles a Top 100 ranking. This year’s top three items were: Twitter, alcohol and social networking.
