Most people look forward to Pancake Day, not because of its meaning but because of the tasty treat we like to eat. We can eat them instead of a healthier meal, without feeling too guilty.
Pancake day is also known as Shrove Tuesday, is 47 days before Easter Sunday and also has a very interesting story behind it. The Anglo – Saxon Christians would go to confess their sins so they could be wiped clean of everything they had done wrong. To call people to confess their sins a bell would be rung. Over time, the bell claimed the name: The ‘Pancake Bell’.
Pancake day is the day before Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a 40-day period which is the time leading up to Easter. This is traditionally a time for Christians to fast.
Shrove Tuesday would be the last opportunity to use up your eggs and flour. Pancakes were a great way to use up these ingredients. It was also seen that each ingredient symbolised a different thing. Eggs represented creation, flour is one of our most important foods we eat, salt gives the idea of wholesomeness and milk signifies purity.
Some people like to participate in fasting of Lent, whilst others up and down the country, simply like the fun of pancake racing and pancake tossing - many of us are just happy to eat pancakes!
