Yellowknife (Mar 07/03) - Weledeh Catholic school students donned masks instead of eating pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday this week.

Shrove Tuesday, which is also known as Pancake Tuesday and Fat Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Lent is a 40-day Christian fasting period before Easter.

Students spent the week before the celebration pasting feathers, sparkles and bright beads onto masks to wear to the Mardi Gras-themed assembly.

School principal Merril Dean used the theme to stress to students the importance of being true to oneself.

"Sometimes we wear masks to hide who we are," Grade 6 student Clarissa Kogiak explained.

Rev. Joe Daley told the students to think of God, live simply and share with others over the next 40 days.

"When we do that we are going to become our real selves once more," he said.