Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday. Whatever you call it, the celebration makes a welcome break in the unremitting grimness of February here in the northern hemisphere.
It’s a chance for a little indulgence at the table, gorging on sweet and sticky stuff and giving a sugar-induced high.
At least that’s the staid and ordinary way we celebrate here at home.
In New Orleans they really know how to party and Mardi Gras is an explosion of jazz, mischief and merrymaking in the Big Easy.
Although we love New Orleans, we’ve never made it in time for Mardi Gras.
The nearest we’ve ever come to that heady rush of music, colour and light is joining the annual parade at Universal in Orlando. A noisy procession of multicoloured floats and strings of green, purple and gold beads flung into the crowds.
But there is one unique and slightly weird way we Brits celebrate the day, with the traditional pancake race.
History of Pancake Day in the UK
It’s all supposed to have started in Buckinghamshire in the village of Olney in 1445 when a local woman heard the bell ringing to summon the faithful to confession.
It came as she was making pancakes.
Fearing eternal damnation, she ran to the church in her apron, still clutching her frying pan.
Today in Olney competitors have to abide by the strict rules.
They must be local women and compete wearing an apron and either a hat or headscarf.
During the race they must toss their pancake at least three times, before reaching the church and serving a (now rather chilly) pancake to the bell-ringer.
Pancake day events around the UK
There are other even more peculiar Pancake Day events
- In London the verger of Westminster Abbey leads a procession of boys into the playground at nearby Westminster School. Here the cook tosses a huge pancake over a five metre high bar. All the pupils at this exclusive private school scramble to grab a piece. The one with the largest chunk gets a cash prize.
- In Scarborough, Yorkshire they do it skipping! Long ropes are stretched across the road on the promenade and everyone joins in a free for all skipping session. Nobody’s entirely sure why but it may have its roots in games played to mark the sowing and sprouting of seeds in springtime.
- In St Columb, Cornwall they’re even more extreme with silver ball hurling. Two goals are set up either side of the town, about two miles apart. The starting scrum in Market Square is ferocious and the victor who finally places the silver ball over the line gets carried back shoulder high, holding the ball aloft. At which point everyone dives into the nearest pub and the ball is immersed in a jug of beer.
Most Shrove Tuesday events in the UK nowadays are less historic, involving varying degrees of fancy dress, and are used as an opportunity to raise money for charity.
Whatever you’re doing, we hope you have a flippin’ good time!
More information about Pancake Day in the UK
The history of Pancake Day from Historic UK
Olney Pancake Day Race
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