Pancake Day is a very British phenomenon it seems
It’s easily one of the top five days of the year, but Americans still can’t quite wrap their heads around the British phenomenon that is Pancake Day.
Whilst Shrove Tuesday is a day recognised in Christian countries across the world, the fanatical celebration of pancakes on this day and this day alone seems to be a very British trend.
Even though they’re incredibly easy to make, us Brits will go 364 days without touching a pancake.
Until today.
It’s this in particular that seems to baffle our friends across the pond, who have worked out that pancakes can be consumed all year round, and not just on one Tuesday a year.
Every year, Americans will take to Twitter to voice their bafflement at the fact we have a day devoted to pancakes, and this year is no different.
One tweeted: “Is Pancake Day a real thing? I thought it was just something British people did once and never again.”
is pancake day a real thing? i thought it was just something British people did once and never again
— nour (moved to @nourrris) (@sillylix) February 19, 2023
Another wrote: “Just learned British people celebrate a holiday called Pancake Day.”
A third voiced their bemusement when their British colleagues started wishing each other a happy Pancake Day on their morning team call.
I didn‘t know British people cared about pancake day like that
— 💡 (@outrotearnation) February 20, 2023
Another was pretty envious of the British tradition, writing: “I gen think it’s so sad that Americans don’t do Pancake Day.”
Logged into my team call with my British colleagues this morning and they wished each other happy pancake day? Apparently that’s a thing 🤣
— rebekah (@rebekah_gordon_) February 21, 2023
Others were just confused by how obsessed we are with Pancake Day.
“British people are, like, weirdly into Pancake Day,” one wrote.
And another added: “I didn’t know British people cared about Pancake Day like that.”
But, Shrove Tuesday is very much celebrated in the US and other Christian countries.
It always lands 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date isn’t fixed, but is usually between early February and early March. This is also the last day before Lent, the 40 day period leading up to Easter.
Often, Christians will give up something for Lent, to represent the 40 days and 40 nights fast that Jesus went on. So Shrove Tuesday is traditionally a day of feasting and indulgence before this fasting period.
In France, the day is known as Mardi Gras, meaning Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of eating richer, fatty foods, and pancakes were an easy way to use up eggs and fats, so became the ideal food to feast on before Lent.
And us Brits really embraced this.
But, what on earth does ‘shrove’ mean? Well, it’s derived from the word ‘shrive’, which means to confess your sins.
Happy #ShroveTuesday, everyone.
What does Shrove mean, you ask? It’s the past tense of the English verb “to shrive”.
Still don’t get it? Maybe this example will help: pic.twitter.com/B2lOcwWh1l
— in context james acaster (@OfAcaster) February 21, 2023
Confess your sins and eat pancakes. Happy shroving!
Related links:
- TalkSport reporter has ruined pancake day with a single tweet
- It’s Pancake Day, so here’s a critical analysis of some majorly fucked-up pancakes
- Recipe: Stay lean with these easy-to-make protein pancakes
