Pancake day with Maggi | Maggi UK (2024)

FAQs

What does Pancake Day mean in the UK? ›

Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, Anglo-Saxon Christians went to confession and were “shriven” (absolved from their sins).

Traditionally, during Lent, people didn't eat rich foods like butter and eggs, so to use them up they made pancakes from these ingredients on Shrove Tuesday. Another tradition on Pancake Day in the UK is pancake racing. People run in a race with a pancake in a pan.

Shrove Tuesday serves a dual purpose of allowing Christians to repent of any sins they might have committed before the start of Lent on the next day Ash Wednesday and giving them the opportunity to engage in a last round of merriment before the start of the somber Lenten season, which is characterized by making a ...

National Pancake Day has roots in both cultural and culinary traditions. In the United States, various celebrations of pancakes have been held over the years, but September 26th has become a dedicated day to honor this beloved dish.

Although Shrove Tuesday isn't mentioned in the Bible, it's the day before Lent, which is a 40 day period of fasting. Lent is said to mark the time Jesus fasted in the desert. The number '40' is significant and appears often in the Bible: Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert.

Traditionally, Christians would spend this time praying and fasting, which meant not eating a range of foods including meat, eggs, fats and milk. The word 'shrove' comes from a Roman Catholic practice – to 'shrive' meant going to confess your sins and being absolved by a priest.

On Tuesday 13 February, Christians and non-Christians across the UK will tuck into platefuls of pancakes and take part in a whole host of pancake-related activities and competitions.

And British pancakes are endlessly adaptable. Unlike their puffy, cake-like cousins, there's no sugar in the mix meaning they work for savoury toppings as well as sweet. And yes, I know the Yanks like theirs with bacon alongside the maple syrup, but that's down to an intense sweet-salt obsession.

As the day before Lent, Shrove Tuesday is seen as the last day of merriment and excess. Followers saw it as a day to use up all their fats and eggs, with pancakes being a good way to use them up — so the pancake-eating is more of a cultural tradition.

What word is never said or sung during Lent? In some liturgical traditions, the word "Alleluia" is not said or sung during Lent. This is because Lent is a penitential season of reflection and sacrifice leading up to the celebration of Easter, which is a joyous feast.

What is the difference between Pancake Day and Shrove Tuesday? ›

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Join Food Historian Sam Bilton as she explores the history of the celebration, and details an 18th century recipe for a pancake pie you can try making at home – the ultimate Shrove Tuesday treat!

Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday? It was the last chance for a spot of indulgence before 40 days of fasting, and also an opportunity to use up food that couldn't be eaten during Lent. This included eggs, fat and milk, which were made into pancakes and eaten on that day.

In France, Pancake Day, is celebrated on the 2nd of February and is called La Chandeleur or Candelmas in English. It marks the end of the Christmas period coming exactly 40 days after Christmas Eve.

Fat Tuesday is the great feast before Lenten fasts begin. Traditionally, Catholics have embraced Fat Tuesday as a way to get rid of all the fats and desserts in the house in preparation for Lent. With these tempting goodies already consumed, it's easier to more fully engage in Lent and experience spiritual growth.

The French name Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, from the custom of using all the fats in the home before Lent in preparation for fasting and abstinence. See Carnival.

Thus, the Pagans understood that by eating pancakes they would gain the power, light and heat of the sun in order to help them with this struggle of seasonal change. Later, for Anglo-Saxon Christians, Shrove Tuesday was seen as a chance to deplete their rich food supplies of eggs, milk and sugar before Lent.

This very popular Feast Day is observed through participating in confession, finalizing a lenten sacrifice, as well as consuming pancakes and other sweets. This year guests from around the country will once again celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP and enjoy a free short stack of Buttermilk pancakes.

Pancake Day is an informal name for Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday in some Christian traditions. It's called Pancake Day due to the tradition of eating pancakes on that day. Some people call it Pancake Tuesday, but this is less common.