Pancake Day

Shrove Tuesday, also called Pancake Day, is the feast day before the Lent fast starts on Ash Wednesday. This year it falls on Tuesday 4 March. Lent is an important part of the Christian calendar commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan.

But why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

The tradition dates back to Anglo-Saxon times when Christians spent Lent in repentance and  fasting. On the day before Ash Wednesday the church bell would summon them to confession, where they would be ‘shriven’, or absolved from their sins. That became known as Shrove Tuesday. On returning home, they would use up their last eggs and fat, and making a pancake was the easiest way to do this.

The Pancake Race

No one is quite certain how the world famous Pancake Race at Olney originated. One rather endearing theory is said to be in remembrance of a harassed woman back in 1445 in Olney Buckinghamshire. She was making pancakes when she heard the church bell calling all to confession. Afraid she’d be late, she ran to the church in a panic, still wearing her apron, and still holding her pan!

   
There are numerous ways and combinations to enjoy pancakes - drizzled with golden syrup, maple syrup, with fruit, ice cream, chocolate spread, orange curd. I like maple syrup and mashed banana, but my favourite is plain lemon juice and sugar.

🥞 Happy Pancake Day 🥞

Polly x