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Why do we eat pancakes?

Pancake Day marks the last day before the Christian season of Lent. It always falls on a Tuesday – and is always exactly 47 days before Easter Day.

Traditionally, Lent is a time of giving things up. So eating pancakes is a way of enjoying some of the rich foods – such as butter and eggs – that Christians have traditionally done without during Lent.

Another name for Pancake Day is Shrove Tuesday. This comes from the old word ‘shrive’ which means to confess. People used to confess their sins and receive forgiveness before Lent. Lent starts the next day, on Ash Wednesday.

More about Lent

In some countries Pancake Day is known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Other countries call it the Tuesday of Carnival. In both cases this is because it is a Carnival Maskday of celebration before the serious business of Lent begins.

Make a carnival mask

In different parts of the world, Pancake Day has involved football games, races and dressing up. You can find out more about some of the traditions here.

Temptation in the wilderness

Read Matthew 4.1-11

The Easter Story

Read Luke 22-24

 

What is Lent all about?

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Its name comes from the ashes the priest smudges on the foreheads of worshippers as a sign of mourning and saying sorry. The ashes are usually made from the Palm Crosses from the previous year.

Lent is the time that Christians use to remember the 40 days and 40 nights Jesus spent in the wilderness, without anything to eat or drink. That’s why we traditionally give something up for Lent – to remind us what it feels like to do without.

More...

PANCAKE DAY cards
Like the previous Easter and Christmas projects which were widely used in parishes, schools and shopping centres, the card is designed to be given away with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to help people understand Lent. Hot cross bun and Easter egg cards will also be available subject to demand. The cards cost £5 per pack of 50.

Click here for order form… or phone 01865 208225.

What's your recipe for
perfect pancakes?

100g flour
2 eggs
300ml milk
1 tbsp oil, plus extra for frying
Pinch salt

  • Put the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and make a well in the middle.  Break the eggs into the well.
  • Add the oil and a quarter of the milk.
  • Whisk, gradually incorporating the our. Beat until smooth.
  • Put in the fridge for half an hour. 
  • Whisk in the rest of the milk and the batter is ready to cook in a little oil.