How Pancakes day is celebrated around
the World
Pancake Day, also known as "Shrove Tuesday", "Mardi Gras" or "Fat Tuesday"
is celebrated all over the world with fun, games, and of course a lot of eating.
The different names reflect the differences in customs that have developed over
the years in various places around the world.
Wha t ha p pe ns o n Pa nc a ke Da y (Shr o ve Tue s da y) in Engla nd?
In England, (and the rest of the UK) the Tuesday before Lent is known as Pancake
Day (Shrove Tuesday). On that day it is traditional to eat pancakes (recipe), toss
pancakes and take part in pancake races.
The origins of eating pancakes arose from Christians who observe Lent and
wanted to use up all the rich foods in their cupboards before Lent. During Lent
eggs, sugar and butter were not allowed so these ingredients were used to make
pancakes. Today everyone celebrates Pancake Day regardless of religion. An
English pancake is a thin, flat cake, made of batter and fried in a frying pan.
A traditional English pancake is very thin and is served
immediately from the frying pan.
Caster sugar (superfine sugar) is sprinkled over the top and a dash of fresh lemon
juice added. The pancake is then rolled. Some people put golden syrup or jam on their
pancakes.
Fresh lemon
P a nca k e R ac e s
A rolled pancake
Pancake races are held all over England. The object of the race is to get to the
finishing line first whilst flipping a pancake in a frying pan a pre-decided number of
times. The skill lies not so much in the running of the race but in flipping and catching
the pancake, which must be intact when the finishing line is reached.
The most famous pancake race takes place at Olney. According to tradition, in 1445 a
woman of Olney heard the shriving bell while she was making pancakes and ran to the
church in her apron, still clutching her frying pan.
The Olney pancake race is now world famous. Competitors have to be local
housewives and they must wear an apron and a hat or scarf.
Each contestant has a frying pan containing a hot, cooking pancake. She must toss it
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.
P a nca k e s in Au s tr a l ia
Pancakes in Australia are too thick to roll.: Australian pancakes are generally a little
thicker than English ones but are still able to be rolled.
The photos show pancakes known as pikelets: smaller, thicker version of the pancake,
which are served cold with butter or jam and cream
Wha t ha p pe ns o n Pa nc a ke Da y in
De nm a rk ?
"In Denmark they also indulge before the beginning of lent. Although not many people
fast for lent these days, it's a welcome excuse to indulge...
They celebrate on the last Sunday before lent, so the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday.
The day is called "Fastelavn". On this day it is custom to eat Danish style buns with
the middle taken out and then filled with whipped cream and/or jam.
All the kids dress up in any way they like. Some are cats, pirates, princesses or Shrek,
to name a few options. The kids all meet up to "hit the cat out of the barrel", which is
the old days included bashing a barrel with a bat while there was a live cat inside.
Fortunately for the cats, this is no longer the case, and the barrels are instead filled
with sweets. The kids bash the barrel until it breaks and then run to get the sweets that
are lying on the snow. The two kids to do the best bashin are crowned Cat King and
Cat Queen.
Afterwards there is usually hot chocolate and more filled buns for kids and grown ups
alike."
Wha t ha p pe ns o n Pa nc a ke Da y in Sw e de n ?
On Shrove Tuesday in
Sweden:
"In Sweden it is called Fettisdagen (Fat Tuesday). They eat a Fettisdag buller. This is
a round bun with the middle part scooped out and replaced with Marzipan with
whipped cream. The top of the bun is placed back on sprinkled with
icing sugar."
"Another tradition in Sweden is to eat Pea soup with pancakes
afterwards and on every Thursday all year round."
Wha t ha p pe ns o n Pa nc a ke Da y in C a na da ?
On Shrove Tuesday in
baked into the pancakes.
Newfoundland: where objects with symbolic value are
"They add things to their pancakes such as coins, pieces of string, nails, wedding
rings, buttons... (all cleaned of course, ha ha!)"
The lucky one to find coins in their pancake will be rich, the finder of the ring will be the
first married, the finder of the name will become a carpenter and the finder of the
thimble will be a seamstress or tailor.
"Everyone here looks forward to Pancake Day. Pancakes are served with syrup,
partridgeberry jam and sausages."
P a nc a ke Da y in Fr a nc e
In France, Shrove Tuesday is called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday.
The name Fat Tuesday comes from the ancient custom of parading a fat ox through
Paris on this day. The ox was to remind the people that they were not allowed to eat
meat during Lent.
During the Mardi Gras Carnival people disguise themselves and put on crazy masks.
The Carnival in Nice, France, is a wild 10-day celebration featuring daily parades,
concerts, street theatre and more. People wear giant masks.
Whe n is the ma in Pa nc ak e e a ting da y i n Fr a nc e ?
Across the Channel in France the main day eating pancakes is Candlemas on the 2nd
of February. This holy day is six weeks after Christmas and is the day that Christ was
presented at the temple by his mother.
French people have a saying which says:
"Eating
crpes
on
will bring a year of happiness"
Candlemas
Day (2nd
February)
"The French name for Candlemas, Chandeleur comes from the word Chandelle
which means candle. It was custom for the people to bring back the lighted candles
from church to assure good crops for the year to come and to chase the evil.
In France it is custom to prepare Crpes for La chandeleur, which symbolises,
wealth, good crops and health for the year to come.
Its form and colour evoke the Sun which is finally returning after the dark winter. It
keeps the mould away from the crop and protects the home from harm. Pancakes
must be tossed with a coin in the hand so as to ensure prosperity throughout
the year. Whoever manages to toss his pancake without dropping it on the ground will
have good luck until the next Candlemas.
Also, it is said that Pope Gelasius I, who introduced Candlemas into the Catholic
Church, often gave crpes to people who made the pilgrimage to Rome."
P a nca k e D a y in Pola nd
"In Poland, Shrove Tuesday is "Sledziowka" ("sledz" is a herring in Polish). The most
popular dish on that day is herring in various styles. Polish people organize parties to
celebrate the end of the Carnival. The parties finish at midnight when the official period
of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Doughnuts and "faworki" are eaten on the last
Thursday before Ash Wednesday. There are a lot of competitions choosing the most
delicious doughnuts and the press is full of information on the results of various
degustations giving assessments of particular bakeries and doughnut producers by
more or less dignified juries. "