Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day or otherwise called Pancake Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. In Christian tradition Pancake Day is the last day of eating richer, fatty foods before the beginning of the Lent season. The Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
Thus the Pancake Day is a day of eating pancakes or, more, specifically, having pancake breakfasts. The next day comes Ash Wednesday which is the first day of Lent.
Many Christian countries celebrate Pancake Day. During the day people in Christian countries participate in confession and absolution. There exists a ritual to burry the previous year’s Holy Week Palms and celebrate the event by eating pancakes and other sweets. This is also a day when one can make a stop to self-examine and consider what wrong things they did, how to amend those wrongs and find a way to the spiritual growth with the help of God. Pancake day is not a fixed date and it is determined by Easter.
Usually many Christian parish churches ring their church bells to remind people to rue their sins before the start of the Lent.
Pancake Day Tradition
The custom of British Churches Christians eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday is very old and dates back to the 15th 16th century. Shrove Tuesday was once known as a “half-holiday” in Britain. The holiday started at 11:00 am with the ringing of a church bell. Interestingly on Pancake Day one can observe “pancake races” which are held in villages and towns in the United Kingdom. They say this tradition started in 1445 when a housewife from Olney, Buckinghamshire, was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells. According to the legend she raced out of the house to church with her frying pan. She was still carrying in her hands and tossing the pancake on the way. Funny, isn’t it? The pancake race remains a relatively common festive tradition in the UK, especially England. Participants with frying pans race through the streets tossing pancakes into the air and catching them in the pan while running.
And if you want to participate in a race here is how to make a pancake.
Ingredients
- 100g plain flour
- 2 large eggs
- 300ml milk
- 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil, plus a little extra for frying
Method
Put 100g plain flour, 2 large eggs, 300ml milk, 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil and a pinch of salt into a bowl or large jug, then whisk it until a smooth batter.
Set a frying pan over a medium heat and carefully wipe it with some oil.
When it is hot enough, start cooking your pancakes for 1 min on each side until golden.
Get dressed up, put on your jewellery, make a good make-up, enjoy and have fun!