Pancakes and Planting

Our work at UC San Diego is with The Center for Ethics and Spirituality (CES) and includes interfaith partners like Hillel UCSD, the Jewish Community Center near campus. This year we chose to combine forces for a community event celebrating Shrove Tuesday and Tu BiShvat.

Shrove Tuesday is a Christian observance that takes place the day before Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent, a time for reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter. Like it's cultural siblings, Mardi Gras & Carnival, Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day, when friends and families use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before the more restrained period of Lent begins.

Tu BiShvat, often called the “New Year of the Trees,” is a Jewish holiday that celebrates nature, growth, and environmental stewardship. Traditionally observed by eating fruits associated with the land of Israel and planting trees, Tu BiShvat highlights humanity’s connection to the earth and responsibility to care for it.

When communities come together to observe occasions like Shrove Tuesday and Tu BiShvat through interfaith events, they create opportunities for mutual understanding and respect. Interfaith gatherings allow people of different religious backgrounds to share traditions, learn from one another, and build relationships rooted in empathy, helping to foster peace and cooperation in diverse societies.