A brief history of why we have Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday)
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Shrove Tuesday is the day before the start of Lent, the 40-day religious period in the run-up to Easter. Thus, the celebrated day falls in either February or March. The name Shrove is derived from the Old English word ‘Shriven’, which historically meant, ‘To have attended confession and received appropriate atonement’.
Shrove Tuesday
By the start of the 11th century, it was already common practice for people to attend confession just before the start of Lent. With Ash Wednesday signalling the start of Lent, Shrove Tuesday became the busiest day in the calendar for confession. The day was initially known as ‘Shriven Tuesday’, which over the years morphed to become Shrove Tuesday.
In the UK, Shrove Tuesday is more commonly referred to as Pancake Day. The name comes from the centuries-old practice of using up provisions that were prohibited for consumption during the 40-day Lent period. In Medieval England for the masses, these provisions would be milk and eggs. A very simple recipe of milk, eggs, and flour was devised, which resulted in the creation of pancakes.
Pancake Day
In the UK, the custom of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday still persists. However, the ritual is certainly not as strongly practised as it once was, even in comparison to the recent past. However, one ancient tradition that still takes place on Pancake Day across the country is ‘pancake races’. This light-hearted activity involves participating in a race while simultaneously flipping a pancake in a frying pan. Some experts think that the tradition is almost 600 years old.
The story goes that it was a woman living in the village of Olney, near present-day Milton Keynes, who started the craze in 1445. She was so engrossed in making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday she lost track of time. On hearing the church bells, she realised it was time for the community to head to church for confession. Hastily making her way to church, she ran out of her house still holding the frying pan that was cooking the pancake.
Other Countries
Apart from the UK, ‘Pancake Day’ or ‘Shrove Tuesday’, is also a day of celebration in other countries around the world. The likes of Ireland, Australia, and Canada celebrate the day in a similar way to the UK. In France, the USA, and A few other countries, the day is called the ‘Mardi Gras’. This translates as ‘Fat Tuesday’ where the name also stems from the idea of using up food just before Lent. In other countries such as Spain, Italy, and Brazil, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated at the end of the carnival period. However, it is similarly acknowledged by the eating of pancakes.
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