Shrove Tuesday A day of indulgence

A)
This year Pancake Day is on Tuesday 24th February which is called Shrove Tuesday. This date always
falls 47 days before Easter Sunday so the date varies from year to year and can fall anywhere between 3rd
February to the 9th March depending on when Easter is. Shrove Tuesday is, of course, the last day before
the period known as Lent which is a Christian time of abstinence.
B)
The name Shrove comes from the old word strive which means to confess. In the middle ages, people
used to confess their sins on Shrove Tuesday. They also asked God for absolution so they were forgiven
before the season of Lent began. Shrovetide is actually the last three days before Lent with Shrove
Sunday, being named Quinquagesima Sunday or the fiftieth day before Easter. Shrove Monday is called
Collop Monday and was named after the traditional dish of the day: Collops of bacon served with eggs. The
Collops were also used as a source of fat for cooking the pancakes the next day. The period of Lent is a
time of giving up things or going without something you like.

C)
The period of Lent is a time of giving up things or going without something you like.
Eggs and butter were among the foods that used to be forbidden during Lent as they were classed as
luxury items. It was believed that pancakes were made to use up the eggs and butter before the start of
Lent. Of course today people tend to give up less vital dietary ingredients and more luxury items such as
chocolate.
D)
The tradition of pancake races is believed to have started by the woman rushing to the Church to confess
their sins before the noon cut-off time, clutching their half finished pancakes. Pancake races were held as
early as the Middle Ages with pictures of people successfully tossing and flipping their pancakes into the air
before crossing the finish line. Points were awarded for the time of the race, but also the number and height
of flips. Of course the pancake had to be whole at then end of the race.
E)
In England, Gloucester pancakes were made with suet, which gives them a rich, grainy texture and were
served with golden syrup. Elsewhere, Harvest Pancakes were served to the poor, made with mild ale,
powered ginger and chopped apples, cooked in lard and given to the farm labourers. Rich pancakes were
large and thin, made with cream, nutmeg, dark sherry and cooked in butter.
Wales has a very strong tradition of pancakes also known as Welsh Cakes or Light Cakes. In Swansea,
these are rolled into cigar shapes, but elsewhere they are left flat. They are made with sour cream,
buttermilk, and spread with butter and piled on top of one another. Sometimes, fish, cheese, sugar and jam
are added to the layers and then the pile is cut into quarters
Scotland also enjoy pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and many houses also serve these on Easter Sunday to
mark the end of Lent. Pancakes are made in the traditional way and served with lemon, sugar, jam, syrup
and stewed apples.
F)
Apart from the United Kingdom, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in Ireland, Canada and Australia. In the
USA, mostly in Catholic and French-Speaking parts, this day is called Mardi Gras. Also in France they call
it Mardi Gras which means Grease or Fat Tuesday while Brazil use the same name or Terca-feira Gorda
and it is the final day of the three day Brazilian Carnival.
Sweden also have Fat Tuesday and Greece has Apocreas, which means from the meat, as this is their last
chance to eat meat as during Lent it is forbidden. Germany has Fasnacht Day and Iceland has
Sprengidagur (Bursting Day) while Poland called it Sledziowka (sledz is herring in Polish). Polish people
organise parties with various herring dishes to eat before Lent begins the next day on Ash Wednesday.
Doughnuts are also eaten on the last Thursday before Ash Wednesday with competitions to choose the
most delicious one.
MATCHING HEADINGS:
Write the appropriate number (i xiv) beside A- F.

NB There are more headings than paragraphs, so you do not have to use them all.

List of headings

i. Why Pancakes?
ii. Customs and celebrations
iii. Racing to the church
iv. Around the world
v. Dates
vi. Shrove Tuesday
vii. Religious beliefs
viii. Recipes and Ingredients
ix. The importance of lent

A) V

B)

C)

D)

E)

F)