Pancake Day
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Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday is the name by which Shrove Tuesday is also known in Britain and Ireland, and Australia.
Shrove Tuesday is the English name for the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which in turn marks the beginning of Lent. Pancakes are eaten to use up milk and eggs, which are not eaten during Lent, and would otherwise spoil during this period. Pancakes first appeared in English cookbooks in the 15th century. In Britain and Ireland in particular, a number of traditions have grown up around the eating of pancakes. Some people in Britain know the day only by the name "Pancake Day" and some are even unaware of the day's connection to Lent.
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The pancake bell
Pancakes were traditionally allowed to be made between the ringing of a curfew bell in the morning of Shrove Tuesday and its ringing again that evening. Housewives had that time in which to use up all the eggs and fat they had left over. Until the early 1900s, Shrove Tuesday was a half-day holiday, and the "Shriving Bell" was rung at eleven o'clock in the morning to remind people that the holiday had begun. It became known in some parts as the "Pancake Bell", and it is still rung today even though the day is no longer a holiday.
Pancake races
The main tradition connected with Pancake Day is the holding of pancake races. The contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan (skillet) and race to the finishing line tosing the pancakes as they go. As the pancakes are thin, some skill is required to toss them successfully while running. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a certain number of times.
In 1634 William Fennor wrote in his Palinodia "And every man and maide doe take their turne, And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne." But the tradition of pancake racing had started long before that. The tradition is said to have originated in the town of Olney, England. It is said that in 1445 a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes that the curfew bell took her completely by surprise. She ran out of the house to church still carrying the frying pan in her hand.
The Olney race is still held today; in fact, it has now gone international. Since 1950 the people of Liberal, Kansas, USA and Olney have held the "International Pancake Day" race between the two towns. The winner is the first woman to reach the church; she gets a "Kiss of Peace" from the verger there.
Pancake Greaze
Another local tradition, the Pancake Greaze, takes place every year at the Westminster School in London. An enormous pancake is prepared and the boys at the school race to get the largest piece of it. See also the Customs section of the Westminster School article.
See also
External links
- History of the Olney, England pancake race (http://www.sideburn.demon.co.uk/olney/pancake.html)