Albania, country in southern Europe, located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula on the Strait of Otranto, the southern entrance to the Adriatic Sea. The capital city is Tirana (Tiranë). Albanians refer to themselves as shqiptarë—often taken to mean “sons of eagles,” though it may well

Albanian language, Indo-European language spoken in Albania and by smaller numbers of ethnic Albanians in other parts of the southern Balkans, along the east coast of Italy and in Sicily, in southern Greece, and in Germany, Sweden, the United States, Ukraine, and Belgium. Albanian is the only

Albania, country in southern Europe, located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula on the Strait of Otranto, the southern entrance to the Adriatic Sea. The capital city is Tirana (Tiranë). Albanians refer to themselves as shqiptarë—often taken to mean “sons of eagles,” though it may well

Kosovo: Ethnic groups: The Albanian share of the population rose from about half in 1946 to about four-fifths by the 1990s. Meanwhile, the proportion of Serbs fell to less than one-fifth. After the Kosovo conflict of 1998–99, additional Serbs emigrated. Thus, in the early 21st century, the population makeup…

shraddha, in Hinduism, a ceremony performed in honor of a dead ancestor. The rite is both a social and a religious responsibility enjoined on all male Hindus (with the exception of some sannyasis, or ascetics). The importance given in India to the birth of sons reflects the need to ensure that

saddha, in Buddhism, the religious disposition of a Buddhist. The Theravada branch of Buddhism, which claims to adhere most closely to the teachings of the historical Buddha, does not rely upon supernatural authority or the word of the Buddha. Rather, it claims that all of its teachings can be

shrapnel, originally a type of antipersonnel projectile named for its inventor, Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), an English artillery officer. Shrapnel projectiles contained small shot or spherical bullets, usually of lead, along with an explosive charge to scatter the shot as well as fragments of the

Henry Shrapnel was an artillery officer and inventor of a form of artillery case shot. Commissioned in the Royal Artillery in 1779, he served in Newfoundland, Gibraltar, and the West Indies and was wounded in Flanders in the Duke of York’s unsuccessful campaign against the French in 1793. In 1804

Shrauta-sutra, any of a number of Hindu ritual manuals used by priests engaged in the performance of the grander Vedic sacrifices, those requiring three fires and the services of many specialized priests. The manuals are called shrauta (from Sanskrit shruti, “revelation”; literally “that which is

pratyeka-buddha: …way of the disciple (shravakayana) and the way of the self-enlightened buddha (pratyeka-buddhayana). The latter concept was retained only in the Theravada tradition. By contrast, Mahayana Buddhists emphasize the ideal of the bodhisattva, who postpones his own final enlightenment while he works toward the salvation of others, and they

Shravanabelagola, town, southern Karnataka state, southern India. It is situated in a hilly upland region, about 55 miles (90 km) north of Mysuru (Mysore). Shravanabelagola contains notable examples of Mauryan architecture (from the Mauryan empire [c. 321–185 bce]). In addition to notable

Shravanabelagola, town, southern Karnataka state, southern India. It is situated in a hilly upland region, about 55 miles (90 km) north of Mysuru (Mysore). Shravanabelagola contains notable examples of Mauryan architecture (from the Mauryan empire [c. 321–185 bce]). In addition to notable

Shravanabelagola, town, southern Karnataka state, southern India. It is situated in a hilly upland region, about 55 miles (90 km) north of Mysuru (Mysore). Shravanabelagola contains notable examples of Mauryan architecture (from the Mauryan empire [c. 321–185 bce]). In addition to notable

Shravasti, city of ancient India, located near the Rapti River in northeastern Uttar Pradesh state. In Buddhist times (6th century bce–6th century ce), Shravasti was the capital of the kingdom of Kosala and was important both as a prosperous trading centre and for its religious associations. It

chromatography: Early developments: Izmaylov and Maria S. Shrayber, distributed the support material as a thin film on a glass plate. The plate and support material could then be manipulated in a fashion similar to that of paper chromatography. The results of the Soviet studies were reported in 1938, but the…

cereal processing: Shredded cereals: Shredded wheat, differing from other breakfast foods, is made from whole grains with the germ and bran retained and no flavour added. In its final form it is in tablets composed of shreds of cooked and toasted wheat. The wheat is cleaned and…

cereal processing: Shredded cereals: Shredded wheat, differing from other breakfast foods, is made from whole grains with the germ and bran retained and no flavour added. In its final form it is in tablets composed of shreds of cooked and toasted wheat. The wheat is cleaned and then boiled…

Raj Kapoor: R.K. Films: …“The Vagabond”), Boot Polish (1954), Shree 420 (1955; “Mr. 420”—referring to Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with cheating related to property and money), and Jagte Raho (1956; “Stay Awake”), many of which were commercial hits as well as critical successes. Several of the productions featured Kapoor…

Shrek, animated cartoon character, a towering, green ogre whose fearsome appearance belies a kind heart. Shrek is the star of a highly successful series of animated films. At the beginning of the 2001 film Shrek, the title character lives as a recluse in a remote swamp in the fairy-tale land of

Julie Andrews: …in several of the animated Shrek films (2004, 2007, and 2010). In addition, Andrews voiced characters in Despicable Me (2010), Despicable Me 3 (2017), and Aquaman (2018). In 2011 she won a Grammy Award for Julie Andrews’

Julie Andrews: …the animated Shrek films (2004, 2007, and 2010). In addition, Andrews voiced characters in Despicable Me (2010), Despicable Me 3 (2017), and Aquaman (2018). In 2011 she won a Grammy Award for Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, a

Julie Andrews: films (2004, 2007, and 2010). In addition, Andrews voiced characters in Despicable Me (2010), Despicable Me 3 (2017), and Aquaman (2018). In 2011 she won a Grammy Award for Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, a spoken-word album for children, and she was honoured with a special…

Sutton Foster: …the feisty Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical (2008). For the latter role, she received her fourth Tony nomination.

Julie Andrews: 2007, and 2010). In addition, Andrews voiced characters in Despicable Me (2010), Despicable Me 3 (2017), and Aquaman (2018). In 2011 she won a Grammy Award for Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, a spoken-word album for children, and

William Steig: Shrek! (1990) was made into a successful DreamWorks animated feature film in 2001. Steig was nominated for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1982 and again in 1988.

India: Guilds: …to commercial activity was the shreni, or guild, through which trade was channeled. The guilds were registered with the town authority, and the activities of guild members followed strict guidelines called the shreni-dharma. The wealthier guilds employed slaves and hired labourers in addition to their own artisans, though the percentage…

biogeography: …the work of American botanists Forrest Shreve, Homer L. Shantz, Hugh M. Raup, and others.

Henry Miller Shreve was an American river captain and pioneer steamboat builder who contributed significantly to developing the potential of the Mississippi River waterway system. Shreve’s father was a Quaker who nevertheless served as a colonel in the American Revolutionary War and lost all his

Shreveport, city, seat (1838) of Caddo parish, northwestern corner of Louisiana, U.S., on the Red River, opposite Bossier City. In 1835 Henry Miller Shreve, a river captain and steamboat builder, opened the Red River for navigation by clearing it of a 165-mile (266-km) jam of natural debris called

shrew, (family Soricidae), any of more than 350 species of insectivores having a mobile snout that is covered with long sensitive whiskers and overhangs the lower lip. Their large incisor teeth are used like forceps to grab prey; the upper pair is hooked, and the lower pair extends forward. Shrews

flea: Parasitism: , shrew fleas and rabbit fleas) are highly host-specific, whereas other species parasitize a variety of mammals. The cat flea infects not only the domestic cat but dogs, foxes, civets, mongooses, opossums, leopards, and other mammals, including humans, if its regular hosts are not available. Related…

gymnure: The shrew gymnure (Neotetracus sinensis) lives in cool and damp mountain forests at elevations of 300–2,700 metres (roughly 1,000–9,000 feet) in southern China and adjacent regions of Myanmar (Burma) and northern Vietnam. The long-eared, or Laos, gymnure (H. megalotis) is restricted to limestone

rat opossum, (family Caenolestidae), any of six species of South American marsupials in the order Paucituberculata. Rat opossums include the common shrew opossums (genus Caenolestes) with four species, the Incan caenolestid (Lestoros inca), and the Chilean shrew opossum (Rhyncholestes raphanurus).

shrew rat, any of 24 species of carnivorous ground-dwelling rodents found only on the tropical islands of Sulawesi (Celebes), the Philippines, and New Guinea. Eighteen species live exclusively at high elevations in cool, wet mossy forests; the other six inhabit lowland and foothill rainforests.

ground squirrel: Tropical ground squirrels: The shrew-faced ground squirrel (R. laticaudatus) of the Sunda Islands, for example, is highly specialized to eat earthworms and insects with its greatly elongated snout, long tongue, and weak incisor teeth. The three-striped ground squirrel (L. insignis), also of the Sunda Islands, is reported to eat…

Shrewsbury, town, administrative and historic county of Shropshire, western England. It is the county town (seat) of Shropshire, and its strategic position near the border between England and Wales has made it a town of great importance. The older, central portion of the town lies on a peninsula

Shrewsbury and Atcham, former borough (district), administrative and historic county of Shropshire, west-central England, in the west-central part of the county. Wales lies across the area’s western border. Shrewsbury and Atcham is an undulating plain covered with glacial drift and drained by the

Shrewsbury School, in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, one of the major public (privately endowed) schools in England, founded in 1552 by Edward VI. Thomas Ashton, the first headmaster, gave it a classical and humanistic tone that has been retained, though sciences and other studies are now also prominent

Henry Percy, 1st earl of Northumberland: …Hotspur was slain at the Battle of Shrewsbury (July 21, 1403), and his brother, the earl of Worcester, was captured and beheaded. Northumberland took no part in the battle, having reached the scene too late with his troops. He retired northward but afterward met the king and repledged his oath…

Charles Talbot, duke and 12th earl of Shrewsbury was an English statesman who played a leading part in the Glorious Revolution (1688–89) and who was largely responsible for the peaceful succession of the Hanoverian George I to the English throne in 1714. Although he displayed great determination in

Charles Talbot, duke and 12th earl of Shrewsbury was an English statesman who played a leading part in the Glorious Revolution (1688–89) and who was largely responsible for the peaceful succession of the Hanoverian George I to the English throne in 1714. Although he displayed great determination in

John Talbot, 1st earl of Shrewsbury was the chief English military commander against the French during the final phase of the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453). The son of Richard, 4th Baron Talbot, he served in campaigns in Wales between 1404 and 1413 and as lieutenant of Ireland (1414–19), when he

Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shropshire or Shrewsbury was a Norman magnate, soldier, and outstanding military architect, who for a time was the most powerful vassal of the English crown under the second and third Norman kings, William II Rufus and Henry I. His contemporary reputation for sadism

Roger de Montgomery, 1st earl of Shrewsbury was a Norman lord and supporter of William I the Conqueror of England. Roger de Montgomery, son of another Roger de Montgomery, known as “the Great,” was a councillor of William, duke of Normandy, before his invasion of England and was probably entrusted

Edward I: Wars of Edward I: …recognize Llywelyn’s gains by the Treaty of Shrewsbury (1267), but Edward was determined to reduce Llywelyn and used Llywelyn’s persistent evasion of his duty to perform homage as a pretext for attack. He invaded Wales by three coordinated advances with naval support (1277), blockaded Llywelyn in Snowdonia, starved him into…

Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of wealth, good fortune, beauty, and abundance. The wife of Vishnu, she is said to have taken different forms in order to be with him in each of his incarnations. Along with the goddesses Parvati and Saraswati, Lakshmi forms the divine trinity known as the Tridevi (tri,

Chaitanya was a Hindu mystic whose mode of worshipping the god Krishna with ecstatic song and dance had a profound effect on Vaishnavism in Bengal. The son of a Brahman, he grew up in an atmosphere of piety and affection. He received a thorough education in the Sanskrit scriptures and, after the

Pyay: …Kṣetra is now known as Hmawza. Excavations, which began there in 1907, revealed the uniquely Pyu culture as opposed to the Mon and Burman. The city was almost circular, its walls enclosed in an area of about 18 square miles (47 square km), the northern portion being planted in rice.…

India: The Andhras and their successors: …the important Andhra kings was Yajnashri Shatakarni, who ruled at the end of the 2nd century ce and asserted his authority over the Shakas. The 3rd century saw the decline of Satavahana power, as the kingdom broke into small pockets of control under various branches of the family.

Shri-Nathaji, representation of the Hindu god Krishna. It is the major image of devotion for the Vallabhacharya (or Vallabha Sampradaya), a religious sect of India. The image is enshrined in the main temple of the sect at Nathdwara (Rajasthan state), where it is accorded an elaborate service of

Shrivaishnava: …its philosophical doctrine upon the Shribhashya (“Beautiful Commentary”) of Ramanuja, an exposition of the Vedanta-sutras.

yantra: …is the shriyantra (also called shrichakra, “wheel of Shri”). It is composed of nine triangles: five pointing downward, said to represent the yoni, or vulva, and four pointing upward, said to represent the lingam, or phallus. The dynamic interplay is understood to be an expression of all the cosmic manifestations,…

Shridhara was a highly esteemed Hindu mathematician who wrote several treatises on the two major fields of Indian mathematics, pati-ganita (“mathematics of procedures,” or algorithms) and bija-ganita (“mathematics of seeds,” or equations). Very little is known about Shridhara’s life. Some scholars

Santana: …25, 1946, León, Nicaragua), and Mike Shrieve (b. July 6, 1949, San Francisco).

Indian philosophy: Shankara’s theory of error and religious and ethical concerns: …followers of Shankara, such as Shriharsha in his Khandanakhandakhadya and his commentator Chitsukha, used a destructive, negative dialectic in the manner of Nagarjuna to criticize humanity’s basic concepts about the world.

Indian philosophy: Shaiva-siddhanta: …Shiva”) in the 14th century, Shrikantha’s commentary on the Vedanta-sutras (14th century), and Appaya Dikshita’s commentary thereon.

rocket and missile system: Air-to-surface: The rocket-powered AGM-45 Shrike antiradiation missile was used in Vietnam to attack enemy radar and surface-to-air sites by passively homing onto their radar emissions. The first missile of its kind used in combat, the Shrike had to be tuned to the desired radar frequency before flight. Because…

shrike, (family Laniidae), any of approximately 30 species of medium-sized predatory birds (order Passeriformes); in particular, any of the more than 25 species of the genus Lanius, constituting the subfamily of true shrikes, Laniinae. With their bills they can kill large insects, lizards, mice,

José Ferrer: The Caine Mutiny (1954), The Shrike (1955), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). As a director, he cast himself in starring roles in The Great Man (1956), I Accuse (1958), and The High Cost of Loving (1958). The last films he directed were

tyrant flycatcher: The shrike-tyrants (Agriornis) of southern South America take prey as large as mice and small frogs. A number of tyrannids, especially the elaenias, feed extensively on berries and other fruit.

shrike-vireo, (genus Vireolanius), any of about four species of tropical American songbirds, characterized by a stout, slightly hooked bill (like the true shrikes in the family Laniidae) but with anatomical features that ally them with the vireos (family Vireonidae; order Passeriformes).

shrimp, any of the approximately 2,000 species of the suborder Natantia (order Decapoda of the class Crustacea). Close relatives include crabs, crayfish, and lobsters. Shrimp are characterized by a semitransparent body flattened from side to side and a flexible abdomen terminating in a fanlike

Earth sciences: Radiometric dating: The SHRIMP (Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe) enables the accurate determination of the uranium-lead age of the mineral zircon, and this has revolutionized the understanding of the isotopic age of formation of zircon-bearing igneous granitic rocks. Another technological development is the ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass…

L.P. Hartley: The Shrimp and the Anemone (1944), his first novel in 19 years, was the first part of a trilogy about a brother and sister, Eustace and Hilda. The first volume treats their childhood. The Sixth Heaven (1946) and Eustace and Hilda (1947) follow them in…

shrimp plant, (Justicia brandegeeana), popular border and greenhouse ornamental of the family Acanthaceae, native to warm regions of the Americas and to the West Indies. Grown for its unusual flower clusters, the shrimp plant will bloom continuously in frost-free areas and is highly attractive to

shrimp plant, (Justicia brandegeeana), popular border and greenhouse ornamental of the family Acanthaceae, native to warm regions of the Americas and to the West Indies. Grown for its unusual flower clusters, the shrimp plant will bloom continuously in frost-free areas and is highly attractive to

shrimpfish, any of four species of small, tropical marine fishes of the family Centriscidae (order Gasterosteiformes), found in the Indo-Pacific. The name razorfish derives from the shrimpfishes’ characteristic sharp-edged belly. Shrimpfishes are nearly transparent, long-snouted, shrimplike fishes,

miracle: Sacred places: Normally these are natural shrines, such as sacred groves, or temples and sanctuaries in which gods or spirits live or have manifested themselves or in which their statues, symbols, holy objects, or relics are enshrined. Holy places, such as Mecca and the Kaʿbah in Islam or the Buddhist stupas,…

Itsuku Island, offshore island, Hiroshima ken (prefecture), Japan, in the Inland Sea. The small island, one of Japan’s most scenic locations, is 19 miles (31 km) in circumference and occupies an area of 12 square miles (31 square km). It is best known for its 6th-century shrine, which was built on

Hans Memling: …extensive narration is the sumptuous Shrine of St. Ursula in the Hospital of St. John. It was commissioned by two nuns, Jacosa van Dudzeele and Anna van den Moortele, who are portrayed at one end of the composition kneeling before Mary. This reliquary, completed in 1489, is in the form…

Frederick John Kiesler: …last important work was the Shrine of the Book (1959–65), which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls in Israel.

Shrine Shintō, form of the Shintō religion of Japan that focusses on worship in public shrines, in contrast to folk and sectarian practices (see Kyōha Shintō); the successor to State Shintō, the nationalistic cult disbanded by decree of the Allied occupation forces at the end of World War II and

circus: History: …local groups such as the Shriners—also performed.

Kate Atkinson: …setting for Atkinson’s next book, Shrines of Gaiety (2022), a sprawling novel centring on a nightclub impresario who faces various threats to her empire.

Will Ferrell: Later credits: In The Shrink Next Door (2021), a miniseries based on a podcast, Ferrell played an insecure man who becomes a patient of a manipulative psychiatrist (Paul Rudd).

textile: Shrinkage control: Shrinkage control processes are applied by compressive shrinkage, resin treatment, or heat-setting. Compressive, or relaxation, shrinkage is applied to cotton and to certain cotton blends to reduce the stretching they experience during weaving and other processing. The fabric is dampened and dried in a relaxed…

mining: Shrinkage stoping: Shrinkage stoping is used in steeply dipping, relatively narrow ore bodies with regular boundaries. Ore and waste (both the hanging wall and the footwall) should be strong, and the ore should not be affected by storage in the stope.

There sure is a lot of air in this bag of chips. A “fun size” candy bar was a lot more fun when we were kids. That new “easier-to-hold” sports drink bottle is the same height, but thinner in the middle. And why is Fluffy suddenly doing her “I’m hungry” meow two hours after dinner? It’s not your

Harrison Ford: …next appeared in the series Shrinking (2023– ), a dramedy that centers on a trio of therapists who are facing various issues; Ford’s character has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson disease.

Shripati was an Indian astronomer-astrologer and mathematician whose astrological writings were particularly influential. Shripati wrote various works in the first two of the three branches of astral science (jyotihshastra)—namely, mathematics (including astronomy), horoscopic astrology, and

Shrirampur, city, southeastern West Bengal state, northeastern India. It is located just west of the Hugli (Hooghly) River and is part of the Kolkata (Calcutta) urban agglomeration. Originally a Danish settlement founded in the 18th century and called Frederiksnagar, the town was acquired by the

India: Breakup of the empire: …while Venkata III’s own nephew Shriranga allied himself with Bijapur. Interestingly, it was Venkata who granted the Madraspatna fort to the English as the site for a factory (trading post). In 1642 an expedition from Golconda drove the king from his capital at Vellore. Hearing that his uncle was dying,…

Shrirangapattana, town, south-central Karnataka state, southern India. It is situated at the western end of an island in the Kaveri (Cauvery) River, just north of Mysore. The town is named for its 12th-century temple dedicated to Shri Ranga (the Hindu god Vishnu). It was fortified in the 15th

Shrivaishnava, member of a Hindu sect, most numerous in South India, that pays allegiance to the god Vishnu and follows the teachings of the philosopher Ramanuja (c. 1017–1137). “Shri” refers to Vishnu’s consort, also called Lakshmi, to whom Vishnu first taught the doctrine. The sect bases its

Eunice Kennedy Shriver was an American social activist who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the intellectually disabled and, in an effort to provide a forum for them to compete athletically, founded (1968) the Special Olympics. Shriver, daughter of Rose and Joseph P. Kennedy and sister of

Maria Shriver is best known as the first lady of California (2003–11) and an American television journalist. She is recognized for her work as a reporter for the NBC (National Broadcasting Company) program Dateline and as the host of First Person with Maria Shriver, an interview-based program

R. Sargent Shriver was an administrator, diplomat, first director (1961–66) of the U.S. Peace Corps, and Democratic nominee for the U.S. vice presidency in 1972. A graduate of Yale Law School (1941), Shriver served as a U.S. naval officer during World War II, and, after a brief association with a

R. Sargent Shriver was an administrator, diplomat, first director (1961–66) of the U.S. Peace Corps, and Democratic nominee for the U.S. vice presidency in 1972. A graduate of Yale Law School (1941), Shriver served as a U.S. naval officer during World War II, and, after a brief association with a

Srivijaya empire, maritime and commercial kingdom that flourished between the 7th and the 13th centuries, largely in what is now Indonesia. The kingdom originated in Palembang on the island of Sumatra and soon extended its influence and controlled the Strait of Malacca. Srivijaya’s power was based

yantra: …is the shriyantra (also called shrichakra, “wheel of Shri”). It is composed of nine triangles: five pointing downward, said to represent the yoni, or vulva, and four pointing upward, said to represent the lingam, or phallus. The dynamic interplay is understood to be an expression of all the cosmic manifestations,…

sedimentary rock: Classification systems: Pettijohn, Robert R. Shrock, and Paul D. Krynine. Their classifications provide the basis for all modern discussion of the subject. The nomenclature associated with several schemes of classifying clastic and nonclastic rocks will be discussed in the following sections, but a rough division of sedimentary rocks…

Shropshire, geographic and historic county and unitary authority of western England bordering on Wales. Historically, the area has been known as Shropshire as well as by its older, Norman-derived name of Salop. Shrewsbury, in central Shropshire, is the administrative centre. The geographic and

Shropshire, breed of medium-wool, dark-faced, hornless sheep originating in the Downs of England. It is one of the most popular farm sheep in the Midwestern United States. It produces good wool and mutton and subsists on sparse pasturage more successfully than breeds such as the Hampshire or

South Shropshire: The Shropshire Hills, a series of ridges oriented southwest to northeast, including the Stiperstones, Long Mynd, and Clee Hills, rise to elevations of 1,600 to 1,700 feet (475 to 500 metres) and are separated by deep valleys; they occupy most of the area. Officially designated an…

A Shropshire Lad, a collection of 63 poems by A.E. Housman, published in 1896. Housman’s lyrics express a Romantic pessimism in a clear, direct style. The poems of Heinrich Heine, the songs of William Shakespeare, and Scottish border ballads were Housman’s models, from which he learned to express

Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shropshire or Shrewsbury was a Norman magnate, soldier, and outstanding military architect, who for a time was the most powerful vassal of the English crown under the second and third Norman kings, William II Rufus and Henry I. His contemporary reputation for sadism

rigging: …is supported by stays and shrouds that are known as the standing rigging because they are made fast; the shrouds also serve as ladders to permit the crew to climb aloft. The masts and forestays support all the sails. The ropes by which the yards, on square riggers, the booms…

religious dress: Later religious dress: Shrouds are normally of unadorned white linen, following the sumptuary ruling of the 1st-century-ce rabbi Gamaliel the Elder. To the shroud may be added the ṭallit used by the deceased, but with the fringes removed or cut, because the prescription governing their use applies only…

Shrove Tuesday, the day immediately preceding Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in Western Christian churches. It occurs between February 2 and March 9, depending on the date of Easter. Shrove, derived from shrive, refers to the confession of sins as a preparation for Lent, a usual practice in

Fastnachtsspiel, carnival or Shrovetide play that emerged in the 15th century as the first truly secular drama of pre-Reformation Germany. Usually performed on platform stages in the open air by amateur actors, students, and artisans, the Fastnachtsspiele consisted of a mixture of popular and