Pancake Day
This year Pancake Day is Tuesday 28th February.
More traditionally known as Shrove Tuesday, this is the Christian feast day before Ash Wednesday, which is the start of Lent. Lent is a time of sacrifice, so Pancake Day historically was the perfect time to use up ingredients such as eggs and fats which are intrinsic to pancakes.
Historically Christians went to Church on Shrove Tuesday to seek absolution, otherwise known as shriving for their sins. So Shrove is taken from the word Shrive. A bell would ring to call people to confession and this became known as the Pancake or Shriven Bell.
The date of Shrove Tuesday varies because it occurs 47 days before Easter Sunday which also alters year on year based on cycles of the moon.
In the UK there are various traditions associated with this day in addition to the eating of pancakes. These include:
Pancake Races: - One of the most famous races takes place in Olney in Buckinghamshire where is it believed the idea of the contest originated. It is said to be based on the story of a local woman who whilst she was making pancakes, heard the Shriven Bell and ran to church still wearing her apron and tossing her pancake in a frying pan to prevent it from burning. For this reason in Olney, racers must be local housewives or men dressed as such and wear an apron and a hat or scarf. During the 415 yard race they have to toss their hot pancake at least three times and the winner has to serve their pancake to the bell ringer and be kissed by him. Other variations of the race include the one held at Westminster School, where the cook tosses a huge pancake over a five metre bar in the playground and boys try to catch the largest piece in order to get a cash prize from the Dean.
From the twelfth century onwards, Shrove Tuesday Football Games were played out in the streets and often referred to as mob football. Nowadays only a few games take place as highways legislation has prohibited playing football on the road since 1835.
In Scarborough on Shrove Tuesday, it is customary for a large skipping rope to be in place and for up to ten people to be skipping at a time.
In some other countries, this date is known as Mardi Gras and is marked by carnivals. These are still linked to the concept of celebrating the last day of ‘fat eating’ or ‘gorging’ before the commencement of Lent. The French translation of Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday.
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