Oops, nearly forgot Shrove Tuesday aka Pancake day!

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Yes it is Pancake Day, but we can have pancakes any day I hear you say. Why is today so special? It’s Shrove Tuesday in certain religions.

It is the day before Lent, and ‘Shrove’ meant to hear someone’s sins and ask God for forgiveness. The word ‘Shrove’ came from the word ‘Shrift’ or ‘Shrive’, to take little heed to one’s problems; ‘to make short shrift’ or try this one for size: ‘To make a short shrift and a long rope’ meant a ‘swift judgment  and hanging’ in ages past. On a lighter note in certain places it is called Fat Tuesday and we now make pancakes.

Now let’s just clear up one thing here…they are not the fat, chubby, pile ‘em high pancakes that Americans are used to. No these are the thinner, skinner version, that some people call ‘crepes’. They can be rolled around delicious fillings or simply folded into quarters and sprinkled with lemon juice and sugar…yum!

It is believed that this all started around the 12^th century, people would celebrate by playing football in the streets until the UK government passed a highways bill saying it was not helpful to block the streets off, though some places still practice it, calling the ‘Ball Game’ or ‘Hurling the silver ball’.

It used to be a half-holiday starting at 11:00 am in the morning, when church bells pealed in towns and villages heralding in the day.

There is an old wives saying that, one lady was late to church, she ran out of the house carrying her pancakes and frying pan with her, and so started the tradition of “Pancake Races” whereby people run races with frying pans, tossing pancakes as they try and finish first.

Scarborough

In Scarborough, Yorkshire the Town Crier rings the pancake bell, the sea front is closed, along with the schools and people are invited to skip, yes skip with a rope…

I understand that this is celebrated in many places in Europe as well as Kansas in the US, therefore if you are thinking of a simple snack this evening may I suggest…pancakes. Whether they are filled with savory fillings of chicken, cheese and spinach or simply folded with either preserve or lemon juice and sugar.

I wish you a wonderful and happy Shrove Tuesday aka Pancake Day!

If you want to know about Shrove Tuesday check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday