Shrovetide  denotes the period from Septuagesima Sunday through Quinquagesima, or Shrove Sunday, and the two following days which immediately precede Ash Wednesday, Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras).

It was formerly customary, in preparation for Lent, to attend confession during Shrovetide. The element shrove is from shrive, which meant, of a priest, to hear the confession of, assign penance to, and absolve, from Old English scrífan, to prescribe penance.