ROCKLAND – We should all eat pancakes, of course. Denny's is closed and there isn't an IHOP around for miles. So, we go to church — St. Peter's Episcopal Church, in Rockland, to be specific. There, the tradition of a pancake luncheon goes back 50 years (some say more).

The Episcopal Church Women of the parish prepared and served pancakes with maple syrup, sausage, sherbet and cookies, coffee and tea on Tuesday, February 28.

Pancake Day, also called Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras (which is French for "Fat Tuesday"), is the last day of feasting before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

It's called so due to the tradition of eating pancakes on the day. This tradition comes from a time where any remaining rich foods were eaten on the day before Lent to use them up, and fasting begins. The date can vary from as early as February 3 to as late as March 9.

Gloria Young, president of the Episcopal Church Women, said all the money raised goes to support the Community Ministries at St. Peters.

"The last two or three years we gave to Meals on Wheels," she said. "This year, we considered giving out vouchers for oil and rooms at hotels for people who need them. We do meals here every Sunday, as well."

The cost of the pancake luncheon was $8 for adults and $4 for children.

Young said that they had already presold $100 worth of tickets for the luncheon. And people plan for it.

"It all goes to help the ministries at the church," she said. "We are thankful for all the support we receive to help others."

The women of St. Peter's, and a man or two, have developed a recipe for pancakes that is fabulous. It's a secret though.

They organize the food, cook it all, decorate the parish hall with a Mardi Gras theme, and delight in serving each guest. People in the area put the Pancake Luncheon on their calendar to remember not to miss this fun and delicious event.

February 28 is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Christian season of fasting and prayer called Lent ending with Easter. In the Anglican Church in England the day is called Shrove Tuesday.

In layman's terms, it's Fat Tuesday. Party on, dudes!