STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— On Staten Island, Shrove Tuesday is a chance to celebrate with neighbors and friends before the hush of Lent settles over the borough. But the tradition has grown surprisingly scarce. This year, based on my research, only three congregations are firing up their griddles for the pre‑Lenten ritual—all free, with freewill donations accepted—serving pancakes, sausage, and the kind of fellowship that has defined the day for generations. And where church suppers have faded, one North Shore neighborhood is stepping in: Clay and Kiln Studio hosts a Mardi Gras‑themed kids’ canvas event in the afternoon, followed by a Mardi Gras celebration along Castleton Avenue—a street-side festival between Davis and Oakland Avenues that keeps the spirit alive even without closing the road.
If you’re wondering why pancakes became the star of the day, the roots go deeper than breakfast. “Shrove” comes from the old English word shrive, meaning to confess—a reminder that the day was once as much about spiritual preparation as it was about using up rich ingredients before Lent. That blend of festivity and reflection is what gives Shrove Tuesday its staying power.
At a prior Shrove Tuesday gathering at Church of the Ascension, the Rev. John Shirley explained why the meal still resonates. “We usually eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday because the ingredients use many of the items traditionally restricted during the Lenten fast: eggs, dairy products, and sugars,” he said. The custom once served a practical purpose—using up foods considered luxuries before the season of fasting—but, he noted, it continues to carry spiritual weight. “The eating of pancakes is a reminder that Ash Wednesday begins a season of discipline in which the faithful forgo aspects of physical comfort to grow spiritually and in closer communion with God.”
Pancakes are a-plenty at the St. John’s Lutheran pre-Lenten dinner. Pameal SilvestriSt. John’s Lutheran Church—Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 216 Jewett Ave., Port Richmond
St. John’s Lutheran will host its annual pancake dinner in the fellowship hall underneath the historic 1853-built church with a full spread of pancakes, sausage, bacon, orange juice, tea, and coffee. For more information call 718-442-5210 or stjohnslutheransi.org.
Throwback to 2023: Shrove Tuesday at a dinner at St. John’s of Rosebank. Pameal SilvestriSt. John’s Episcopal Church—Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
1333 Bay St., Rosebank, Feb. 17, 2026 at 6 p.m.
St. John’s Episcopal Church, one of Rosebank’s oldest and most storied congregations, has hosted Shrove Tuesday pancake suppers for generations. The event is held in the parish hall behind the church—a cozy gathering space that has long served as the heart of community meals, meetings, and celebrations. The supper traditionally operates on a free-will donation basis, with proceeds supporting The Foundation for Dignity. For more information call 718-447-1605. The church’s site is stjohnssi.org.
Top: An 1871 photo of Old Christ Church on Franklin Avenue. Middle: A 1987 view of Christ Episcopal Church at Franklin and Filmore, a neo‑Gothic structure built in the early 1900s.Christ Church New Brighton—Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 from 6 to 8 p.m. 76 Franklin Ave., New Brighton
Christ Church New Brighton brings back its long-running Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, held in the parish hall behind the historic stone church on Franklin Avenue. The evening features pancakes, breakfast meats, and a light Mardi Gras touch—a neighborhood tradition that blends fellowship with the eve of For more information go to ccnbsi.org.
Spring on Castleton Avenue will awaken in about two weeks when a Mardi Gras celebration spills into the street and pulls in everyone who passes—bus drivers welcome.(Courtesy of Kristen Daggan)Mardi Gras Castleton Celebration—Castleton Avenue
Castleton Avenue brings its own flavor to Shrove Tuesday with a neighborhood-style Mardi Gras celebration that keeps the focus on food, music, and community—all without closing the streets. The gathering centers around the parish hall and the surrounding sidewalks, where neighbors stop in for beads, treats, and a little pre-Lenten festivity before Ash Wednesday arrives.
This year, a sidewalk parade kicks off at 4 p.m., with festivities with stretching along Castleton Avenue between Oakland and Davis Avenues, courtesy of the Castleton Avenue Merchants Association. The streets remain open, but the action unfolds on the sidewalks and inside local businesses, including Clay and Kiln Pottery Studio, Farm to Bagel, House of Misfits Tattoo and La Torretta Pizzeria—each offering its own take on the celebration.