Tradition
In the UK, there is a much-loved tradition of making and eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, which falls between February 2 and March 9 each year, depending on the date for Easter. In 2009, Shrove Tuesday falls on 24 February. Shrove Tuesday ('shrove' stems from old English word 'shrive', meaning 'confess all sins') is the day before Lent.
According to Christian beliefs, Lent commemorates Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, and observant Christians mark this period by fasting. So Shrove Tuesday was cleverly invented to use up the ingredients that were given up for Lent - milk, butter and, particularly, eggs - which may not be eaten again until Easter.
In other parts of the world, Shrove Tuesday is marked by quite different celebrations. In New Orleans, for example, it's celebrated with the Mardi Gras, and in Rio de Janeiro with the equally raucous carnival.
Other old customs include the annual pancake grease at London's Westminster school (schoolboys fighting for pancakes in return for a monetary reward); Mischief Night (breaking into people's houses in disguise and demanding pancakes); Lent Crocking or Lensharding (throwing old crockery at people's doors and asking for pancakes to be tossed back), and shroving - a visiting custom in which children sang or recited poetry in exchange for food or money.
The UK once had a thriving regional cuisine, with the various counties boasting their unique culinary specialities - and pancakes were no exception.
In England, Gloucester pancakes were made with suet, which gave them a rich, grainy texture. They were the size of a large scone, fried in lard, and served with golden syrup. Elsewhere, there were 'harvest pancakes for the poor' and 'pancakes for the rich'. The former was quick-cooking, portable food that was eaten by farm labourers. The batter was made with mild ale, powdered ginger and, sometimes, chopped apple, and small ladlefuls were cooked in lard. The 'rich' pancakes, on the other hand, were large and thin. They were made with cream, nutmeg, dark sherry, rosewater or orange flower water, and cooked in butter.
The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race takes place at the Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane and is open to teams of four (fancy dressed if you like). You need to bring your own pan and the’ll supply you with the pancakes, the heats start at 12.30pm and the eventual winners receive an engraved frying pan. There are prizes for the runners-up and best dressed teams and free pancakes to eat for competitors.
The All Hallows Great Pancake Race takes place every year close to the Tower of London, in front of All Hallows church on Byward Street. This is another team event where you need to bring your own pan and is a charity event in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust. It starts at 1pm, is free to attend and the nearest Tube is Tower Hill.
Poulters Company Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races This event features teams of four from the traditional trade guilds of the City of London and among the trades represented by teams will be butchers, chartered surveyors, clockmakers, cooks, cutlers, distillers, farmers, farriers, founders, fruiterers, fuellers, gunmakers, musicians, the Old Bailey, poulters, tax advisors and turners and many more. The event begins at 11am with races starting at noon in front of the Guildhall in the City of London, is free to attend and the nearest Tubes are St Paul’s, Mansion House or Bank.
have a nice pancake day everyone!