Pancake Day - History

Pancake Day, or "Shrove Tuesday" is the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. We empty our cupboards of dairy products such as eggs, milk and butter and use them to make pancakes.


In the past, Christians would give up dairy products for Lent and eat very little. Lent last for forty days and is the time leading up to Easter,  so Shrove Tuesday became a time of celebration and feasting, and pancakes. Church bells would ring and people would go to church to confess their sins and be "shriven" (forgiven).


There are lots of games and traditions on pancake day, which are still popular today, such as pancake races, making pancakes and tossing pancakes.

One of the most popular Pancake Day celebrations in the world is the Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, which means "Fat Tuesday". Mardi Gras is the French name for Shrove Tuesday.