Historical clue formulations

• Pre-Easter observance — 2026-08-31
• Gave temporarily — 2026-08-21
• Time to give up? — 2026-06-28
• Time when one might give up alcohol — 2026-01-29
• Advanced — 2025-12-28
• Time to do without — 2025-12-17
• Period of abstinence, for some — 2025-12-04
• Given for a time — 2025-11-24
• Fast time? — 2025-11-14
• Time of abstinence — 2025-08-22
• Observance that ends on Holy Thursday — 2025-07-19
• Time to give up? — 2025-04-05
• When Holy Week falls — 2025-04-04
• Gave for a while — 2025-03-24
• Mardi Gras follower — 2025-01-21
• Observance that might include Fish Fridays — 2024-04-09
• Allowed to be borrowed — 2024-02-25
• Mardi Gras follower — 2023-08-23
• Didn't give forever — 2023-01-22
• You might give something up for this — 2023-01-17
• Advanced — 2023-01-15
• Pre-Easter period — 2022-03-07
• Spring time — 2021-04-08
• Observance once known as Quadragesima (Latin for "fortieth") — 2020-10-22
• Spring time — 2020-08-25
• What Carnival precedes — 2020-07-03
• It begins on Ash Wednesday — 2020-01-28
• Religious observance that's also a past-tense verb — 2020-01-26
• Giving up time — 2020-01-05
• It begins on Ash Wednesday — 2019-05-15
• Advanced — 2019-03-03
• Fast time — 2018-12-09
• Advanced — 2018-10-20
• Post-Mardi Gras period — 2017-08-23
• Gave for a while — 2017-02-13
• Fast time? — 2016-06-21
• Time to give up? — 2016-06-12
• Time of self-sacrifice — 2016-05-28
• Not given, say — 2016-01-23
• Quitting time? — 2015-12-04
• Mardi Gras follower — 2015-09-30
• Not given permanently — 2014-12-09
• Did a baker's job — 2014-08-23
• Post-Carnival time — 2014-05-28
• Loaned — 2013-11-11
• Time to give up? — 2013-09-24
• Post-Carnival period — 2013-06-05
• Given for a time — 2012-08-13
• Period after Shrove Tuesday — 2012-06-04
• Time to abstain — 2012-04-13