Shrove Tuesday is before the first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday) in the Christian Calendar always falling 47 days before Easter Sunday so the date varies from year to year. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day, because it is customary to eat pancakes on this day. In the USA and elsewhere – Shrove Tuesday day is called Mardi Gras!
“Pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent is that the 40 days of Lent form a period of fasting, during which only the plainest foodstuffs can be eaten. Therefore, rich ingredients such as eggs, milk, sugar and flour are disposed of immediately prior to the commencement of the fast. Pancakes were therefore the perfect way of using up these perishable goods, besides providing a minor celebratory feast prior to the fast itself. The word shrove is a past tense of the English verb "shrive," which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by confessing and doing penance. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving (confession)that Anglo-Saxon Christians were expected to receive immediately before Lent. - Wikipedia
The traditions of pancake racing started long ago and are held in towns across England. The tradition is said to have originated in Olney, Buckinghamshire when a housewife was so busy making pancakes, that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake. Held since 1445, the Olney pancake race is run traditionally by women holding frying pans containing hot, cooking pancakes. She must toss the pancake three times during the race that starts at the market square at 11.55 am. The first woman to complete the winding 375-metre course (the record is 63 seconds set in 1967) and arrive at the church, serve her pancake to the bell ringer, and be kissed by him, is the winner. She also receives a prayer book from the vicar.
Some of the races in London are - Great Spitalfields Pancake Race, the Great Pancake Race: on Tower Hill Terrace and the Poulters’ Company Pancake Race (between teams representing each of the traditional livery companies (trade associations).
“Pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent is that the 40 days of Lent form a period of fasting, during which only the plainest foodstuffs can be eaten. Therefore, rich ingredients such as eggs, milk, sugar and flour are disposed of immediately prior to the commencement of the fast. Pancakes were therefore the perfect way of using up these perishable goods, besides providing a minor celebratory feast prior to the fast itself. The word shrove is a past tense of the English verb "shrive," which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by confessing and doing penance. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving (confession)that Anglo-Saxon Christians were expected to receive immediately before Lent. - Wikipedia
The traditions of pancake racing started long ago and are held in towns across England. The tradition is said to have originated in Olney, Buckinghamshire when a housewife was so busy making pancakes, that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake. Held since 1445, the Olney pancake race is run traditionally by women holding frying pans containing hot, cooking pancakes. She must toss the pancake three times during the race that starts at the market square at 11.55 am. The first woman to complete the winding 375-metre course (the record is 63 seconds set in 1967) and arrive at the church, serve her pancake to the bell ringer, and be kissed by him, is the winner. She also receives a prayer book from the vicar.
Some of the races in London are - Great Spitalfields Pancake Race, the Great Pancake Race: on Tower Hill Terrace and the Poulters’ Company Pancake Race (between teams representing each of the traditional livery companies (trade associations).
1 comment:
WHEN ARE YOU PLANNING TO HAVE PANCAKES AT 53 SPRUCE AVE???
OR WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THEM IN LONDON??? STEVE AND I JUST FINISHED OUR PASSPORT APPS.
WHEN SHOULD WE VISIT???
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