The forgotten history of why we make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday

Get your spatulas ready: Pancake Day, aliases Shrove Tuesday, is conscionable astir nan corner, arriving connected Tuesday 17 February successful 2026.

This year's ceremony falls notably earlier than nan erstwhile one, truthful you’ll request to hole your batter ingredients if you haven’t already.

Whether you favour nan crepe-style pancakes or for illustration nan thicker, fluffy variations enjoyed successful Scotland and nan US, this yearly culinary arena is embraced by countless individuals worldwide.

Signifying a play of indulgence earlier nan Christian show of Easter, Pancake Day holds some belief value and offers a chance to bask delicious treats.

What is it and erstwhile does it return place?

Shrove Tuesday, besides commonly referred to arsenic Pancake Day, is simply a ceremony that’s observed nan time earlier Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday marks nan first time of nan Christian observance of Lent, a 40-day play of abstinence that precedes Easter (which is simply a moveable feast).

As such, Ash Wednesday is nan past time connected which those who observe Lent tin bask richer foods earlier abstaining for them, should they take to.

Throughout nan hundreds of years it’s go contented for group to eat pancakes to people nan opening of Lent to usage up ingredients that they wouldn’t beryllium allowed to eat during nan 40-day period, which is really Pancake Day obtained its name.

As Pancake Day ever takes spot 47 days earlier Easter Sunday, its existent day connected nan Gregorian almanac tin vary.

According to Historic UK, nan word Shrove Tuesday derives from nan enactment of Anglo-Saxon Christians confessing their sins earlier Lent, and frankincense being “shriven” of them.

In immoderate countries, including France, Germany and nan United States, nan time earlier nan commencement of Lent is recognised pinch a ceremony called Mardi Gras.

Translated arsenic meaning “Fat Tuesday” successful French, nan festivities often impact Carnival activities specified arsenic royal parades.

How did it start?

The contented of eating pancakes to spot successful nan opening of Lent has been observed successful Britain since astir nan 16th century.

The Encyclopedia of Traditional British Rural Sport outlines that this occurred because nan ingredients that dress up pancakes – namely eggs, food and fat – would typically beryllium banned during Lent.

“In immoderate parishes it was nan civilization for nan religion doorbell to ringing astatine noon arsenic nan awesome for group to statesman frying their pancakes,” nan authors of nan book state.

This doorbell became known arsenic nan “Pancake Bell”, Historic UK explains, and is still utilized successful parishes today.

While pancake eating connected Shrove Tuesday has been a civilization for nan past fewer centuries, nan enactment of marking nan opening of Lent anterior to Ash Wednesday has been astir for acold longer.

According to nan Anglo-Saxon Ecclesiastical Institutes, a text reportedly translated by writer Abbot Aelfric astir 1000AD, successful nan week preceding Lent it was civilization for Christians to confess their sins truthful that “the confessor shall truthful shrive him arsenic he past whitethorn perceive by his deeds what he is to do [in nan measurement of penance].”

Centuries later, astir nan clip of nan 16th-century Western Christian Reformation movement, “Shrovetide”, nan play of ceremony earlier nan accelerated of Lent, would past around a week.

How is it celebrated?

First and foremost, nan superior attraction of galore group connected Pancake Day is nan excessive depletion of palate-pleasing pancakes.

Some besides return portion successful an activity called “pancake racing”, which, arsenic nan sanction suggests, involves participating successful a title while flipping pancakes successful a frying pan.

It’s believed this contented originated successful 1445, erstwhile a female mislaid way of clip while making pancakes connected Pancake Day.

As she heard nan religion doorbell ring, calling for nan organization to caput to nan religion for confession, she ran retired of her location to make her measurement to church, each nan while still holding her frying cookware pinch nan pancake connected top.

In nan UK, immoderate besides observe Pancake Day by taking portion successful “mob football” matches.

This centuries-old contented utilized to beryllium much common, and involves teams kicking a shot astir connected nationalist roads.

While galore nary longer partake successful nan activity, immoderate villages, specified arsenic Atherstone successful Wawrickshire, proceed to uphold nan tradition.

Some pancake recipes you tin try

From elemental crepes topped pinch sweetener and citrus juice, to fluffy pancakes adorned pinch cocoa dispersed and banana, there’s nary extremity to nan imaginative pancake recipes you could fry up connected Pancake Day.

If you’re looking for inspiration, look nary further than The Independent‘s database of appetising recipes below:

If you’re successful request of a decent frying pan, click here to return a look astatine 10 of nan champion varieties connected nan market.