What Is Pancake Day?
Pancake Day is also known as Shrove Tuesday. It is the last day before the start of Lent. During Lent, Christians often give something up. In the past, people would not eat foods such as eggs during this time, so to use them before Lent began, they would mix them with
other rich foods such as milk and flour to make pancakes.
All over the UK, pancake
racing is very popular. Lots of people gather together in fancy dress to toss
pancakes while running. The most famous race happens every year in
Buckinghamshire, where women run wearing an apron and a head scarf. Runners
have to toss their pancake at the start and finish line.
How Is Pancake Day Celebrated Around the World?
Pancake Day is celebrated all over the world and has many different names.
• In Sweden, it is known as ‘Fat Tuesday’ and Swedish people eat a pastry called Semla.
• In Portugal, it is called ‘Carnival’
The biggest pancake in the world measured over 15 metres and was made in the UK.
and they eat sweet dough balls like doughnuts.
• In Iceland, it is called ‘Bursting Day’.
Unlike the UK, they eat meat and peas.
What Is Pancake Day? Pancake Day is also known as Shrove Tuesday. In Christianity, Shrove Tuesday is the feast day before the beginning of Lent on the following day (Ash Wednesday). Traditionally, Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter), was a time of giving up certain foods. On Shrove Tuesday, people went to church to confess their sins and were called by a bell, which came to be known as the ‘pancake bell’. People used up rich foods in their home such as eggs and one way of using them was to make pancakes. |
Pancake Day Racing
Celebrations for Pancake Day include pancake races. In some areas, people gather together to join in races where they toss pancakes. Rules for the races vary. In some, the aim is to flip the pancake as many times as possible. In others, such as in Olney, Buckinghamshire, the pancake has to be tossed at the beginning and at the end of a running race. Tradition suggests that in 1445, a woman heard the ‘pancake bell’ while making her pancakes. Still holding her frying pan, she ran to the church in her apron and from then on, the race continued.
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• The biggest pancake in the world measured over 15 metres and was made in the UK.
• In 1994, a man ran a marathon while tossing a pancake. He completed it in just over three hours!
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