People all around the world will be celebrating the upcoming month of Lent by indulging in pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Pancake Day. The discovery of Pancake Day can be taken back many years as before the lent season, people had to use up all the food and water that they had to stop it from going to waste due to them fasting the entire month. The ingredients consisted of things such as butter, eggs and fat which are key ingredients to a batch of pancakes, and thus the association between the religious day and sweet treat began to popularise over the years. The day has lost its significance in terms of religion as it celebrated by not only Christians but by people of all faiths and cultures which suggests that it is no longer a religious. When asked if Shrove Tuesday has lost its significance Rebecca Ogbonna, 16 responded with “I think commercial holidays may not lose significance of the holidays but it can draw away from the true meaning. For instance, many people don’t know the real meaning behind Pancake Day. They just see it is a day to just simply eat pancakes whereas in reality, Shrove Tuesday is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday which is the first day of Lent. It’s actually a day of penitence, to clean the soul, as well as a day of celebration”. The younger generation of today’s society need to be taught/reminded the context of specific celebrations as it will make them appreciate them more and remember the trials that their ancestors had to go through. However Pancake can also be considered a reminder of the history of shrove Tuesday and can bring families and friends closer through the consuming of pancakes, as well as giving back to the less fortunate as some schools raise money from the proceeds of the pancakes and give to various charities to do good in the month of selflessness. Just remember there is more to shrove Tuesday than indulging in pancakes, its more about marking the start to ones Lenten journey!
