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What is Pancake Day and why do we celebrate Shrove Tuesday?
Forget Valentine’s Day — the highlight of this February comes on this glorious and most delicious day at the end of the month – Pancake Day.
February 28, known as Shrove Tuesday, is always the day that precedes Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
That is determined by Easter, the dates of which change year by year.
Why is Pancake Day in February (or sometimes March)?
This year, Shrove Tuesday — known across the Commonwealth as Pancake Day — takes place on Tuesday, February 28 (today!).
Ash Wednesday follows on March 1.
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Pancake Days always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday – so the date varies annually, but will always be between February 3 and March 9.
Although a Christian tradition, both days, like Easter, are marked even by those who don’t follow religion.
Why do we eat pancakes?
Lent is a season of 40 days (counting Sundays) which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.
The period represents the time Jesus is said to have spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan.
During Lent, participants give up a particular food or habit — which can be anything from smoking to watching television.
Shrove Tuesday, the last day of indulgence, is marked by clearing out fattening foods from the house (Mardis Gras, as the day is known elsewhere, translates from French as Fat Tuesday).
Rather than waste foods, people were encouraged to come up with a dish everything could be thrown into — and the pancake was born.
While Nutella might be a more recent introduction, the pancake actually dates back centuries.
It has featured in cookery books as far back as 1439, while the tradition of flipping them dates back at least to 1619.
Pancake ingredients can also be seen to symbolise four points of significance at this time of year: eggs (creation); flour (the staff of life);
salt (wholesomeness); and milk (purity).
What’s the best recipe?
To make eight pancakes you will need 125g plain flour, a pinch of salt,
one egg, plus one egg yolk, 225ml whole or semi-skimmed milk, plus a
small knob of butter
However, there are many options — with various toppings and fillings, from sweet to savoury.
Vegans can use baking powder, water and soya milk to avoid dairy products.
