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Don and Virginia: you wrote:
Milo,
What is a Shrove???
My apologies for the length of time it has taken to answer this question. Milo no doubt could have given you a concise answer in a very short time. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who one speaks with) Milo has given up email for Lent, along with a promise to not give out any more press releases without checking first. I will do my best in his stead.
By my understanding, Shroves first came to the Americas with the Pilgrims, during their search for religious freedom. It is not believed that they made their way to Australia in the same manner, as that would not account for their marsupial nature. One must conclude they developed in two different parts of the world, apparently around the same time. Sadly there are no clear records which will give us a picture of how they were a part of early New England life. It is known that they held a place in the religious practice of the time, but there are no paintings or drawings, as that would have been considered idolatry. It is mentioned in the early writings of the time that on the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent, many were "shriven" and on the following day received a mark of ashes on their foreheads, which historians believe is a sign that even then, Shroves were burned for religious ceremony.
Though they were probably raised domestically by early settlers in the northern Colonies, they quickly adapted to the wild, and worked their way down to the Virginias. It was there they became such a part of Anglican Church ritual. This is shown by the development of hymns to go along with the liturgy. Verses from three of those hymns are reproduced below (credits to Gregory Holmes Singleton) in the order in which they appear in the Shrove Tuesday ritual (not found in most hymnals but possibly available through the Anglican Bookstore.)
(gathering song)
Bringing in the Shroves,
Bringing in the Shroves,
We shall go rejoicing,
Bringing in the Shroves.
(entrance processional, Shroves held high)
Brightest and best of the Shroves of the morning,
Shrove on our darkness and lend us thine aid:
Shrove of the east, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our Shroves will lead to thine aid.
(praise song, as Shroves are placed in the Shrovorium to be burned)
All God's Children are shriven toda-ay
A-A-A-A-A-le-i-loo-oo-yah!
No more Shroves for days and da-ays
A-A-A-A-A-le-i-loo-oo-yah!
Forty days is not so long
A-A-A-A-A-le-i-loo-oo-yah!
Burn your Shroves, you can't go wrong
A-A-A-A-A-le-i-loo-oo-yah!
(continued on next page)
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