Shrove Tuesday
The long build up to Easter is called Lent. The day before Lent begins is called Shrove Tuesday.
'Shrove' means being forgiven for wrong-doings. Another name for Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day.
Long ago this was a day for feasting and having a good time. People would go to church to confess
the bad things they had done and would be 'shriven' or forgiven before the start of Lent. Since
rich foods such as eggs were forbidden during Lent, one way of using them up would be to make pancakes.
Many people still make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and in some parts of the UK people run in pancake
races. This custom grew up because of the legend which dates from well over 500 years ago in 1445.
On Shrove Tuesday one woman was still making her pancakes as the church bells rang out. Rather than
be late she took her frying pan and pancake with her.
One of the most famous pancake races is held in Olney, Buckinghamshire. The race has been held for
hundreds of years. Competitors need to be women over 18 years of age who must wear a skirt, an apron
and head covering. They have to toss their pancake on the start line and again at the finish to prove
they haven't lost it.
In France and the United States Pancake day is called Mardi Gras which means 'Fat' or 'Grease Tuesday'.
Continue reading about the Easter festival timeline by finding out more about Lent.