Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday, occurs in February or March on the day that precedes Ash Wednesday, which marks the first day of Lent.

Border charities, church groups and school children fine-tuned their pancake-flipping action.

UnitingCare Wodonga held its annual Pancake Day breakfast fundraiser on Tuesday morning at St Stephen’s Uniting Church.

UnitingCare Wodonga agency manager Naomi Jansen said this year all money raised would support UnitingCare programs for people living in crisis.

Since 2002 millions of pancakes have been flipped and sold to raise funds for UnitingCare.

“Pancake Day is a fun way to bring the community together while making a real difference,” Ms Jansen said.

“We had over 70 people enjoy the morning breakfast, starting their day with freshly made pancakes at St Stephen’s Church front lawn.”

St Patrick’s Parish School students in kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2 enjoyed making and eating pancakes on Tuesday morning.

Kindergarten teacher Melissa Heyme said the students had learnt about the origins of Shrove Tuesday in class.

“Shrove Tuesday is on the day before Lent starts,” she said.

“Because people fasted over the 40 days of Lent, they had to use up all of their eggs, flour and sugar.”

The term “Shrove Tuesday” comes from the word shrive, meaning “absolve”. It is observed by many Christians including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Catholics.

St Patrick’s Parish assistant priest Father Stephen Onyekwere said Ash Wednesday was an important aspect of the Catholic faith.

“It’s the beginning of the season of Lent,” he said.

“We remember Christ’s 40 days in the desert and how he triumphed.”

St Patrick’s Parish will hold Stations of the Cross services on Fridays in Lent at 7pm.

Easter runs from Good Friday on March 25 until Easter Monday on March 28.