London Sightseeing Mini Coach Company

Shrove Tuesday in England - Bizarre Traditions and Rituals

Today is Shrove Tuesday or 'Pancake Day' is it is better known in England and all over the country people will be tucking into pancakes to celebrate. Shrove Tuesday marks the beginning of Lent and was traditionally celebrated with games, dancing and feasts, as it was the last chance to use up fat, butter and eggs which could not be eaten during the Lenten feast (any excuse for a party!). The origin of the name Shrove lies in the archaic English verb "to shrive" which means to absolve people of their sins. It was common in the Middle Ages for "shriveners" (priests) to hear people's confessions at this time, to prepare them for Lent. Althought the exact date of Shrove Tuesday changes from year to year it always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday.
Traditionally it was permitted to cook pancakes between the ringing of a bell known as the "curfew bell" in the morning and the evening. Until the beginning of the 20th Century Shrove Tuesday was a half-day holiday and the bell was rung to announce the beginning of the holiday - even to this day the bell is run in certain parts of the country.

England has many ancient (and quite strange) traditions associated with Shrove Tuesday and many of these continue to this day:

1) Pancake Race - Contestants are traditionally women and must toss their pancakes in a frying pan as they race to the finish line. The winner is the first to cross the finish line having tossed their pancake a designated number of times. The tradition is said to have originated in the businessman town of Olney in 1445 when a women was so busy making pancakes that the curfew bell surprised her and she ran to church still carrying her frying pan. There is still a race held in the town of olney to this day.

2) Shrove Tuesday Ball Games (Mob Football) - Many towns throughout England held football games but the practice mostly died out with the passing of the 1835 Highways Act which banned the playing of football on public highways. However, two games have survived to the present day and the most famous of these is held in Atherstone in Warwickshire, held now for 805 years. It is possibly the most extraordinary sight you will ever see - hundreds of people gathering in the centre of the town to wrestle each other for possession of a heavy leather ball. Tied to the ball are four ribbons, one in red, one blue, one white and one gold, and the participants struggle to gather a ribbon each - and ribbon holders get a prize of £10 at the end of the game. However, the main prize is the ball itself and it is an extremely physical encounter whichprecedess the final klaxon as participants struggle to possess it. The ball may be thrown, carried or kicked and a series of scrummages can take place as the game progresses. It is a no-holds-barred contest, players are not precluded from any tactic necessary to get hold of the ball and it pays to be of stern stuff if you want to take part!

3) Pancake Greaze - This tradition has taken place at Westminster School in London every year since 1753. A pancake is prepared in advance and reinforced with horsehair - this is thrown by the head cook over the bar which used to separate the parts of the schoolroom. Elected members of the school then fight over the pancake for one minute whilstbeingg watched over by the Dean of Westminster Abbey and the Headmaster. The pupil with the largest piece at the end of the minute is the winner and is awarded a sovereign. If the cook failed to throw the pancake over the bar three time he would have been pelted (or 'booked') by heavy Latin primers and it rumored that this took place on at least oneoccasionn. This is still an extremely popular tradition, although 'booking' the cook no longer exists.

DID YOU KNOW?
The greatest number of times a pancake has been tossed in two minutes is 416, by Ralf Laue of Leipzig, Germany, on June 28, 1997, in Linz, Austria.
The world’s biggest pancake was cooked in Rochdale in Lancashire in 1994. It was a whopping 15 metres!

RECEIPE FOR TRADITIONAL SWEET PANCAKES
Serves 4
Ingredients:
100g/4oz Plain Flour
A pinch Salt
1 Egg
270ml/9fl.oz. Milk
Vegetable Oil for frying
Sugar to serve
Lemon or Orange juice to serve
Wedges of Lemons or Oranges to garnish

Instructions
1. Place the flour, salt, milk and egg in a large bowl and whisk until smooth and lump free. Preheat the oven to very low to keep the first lot of pancakes warm whilst you're cooking the remainder.
2. Transfer the batter to a measuring jug.
3. Heat the oil in a frying pan until very hot, then pour most of it into a heatproof container, leaving just enough oil to coat the pan.
4. Pour in a little of the batter, tilting the pan to evenly cover the base with a thin layer. Fry over a moderate heat, shaking the pan gently so it doesn't stick, until the underside is golden. This will only take 1-2 minutes.
5. Using a palette knife, turn the pancakes over and cook the other side until golden.
6. Remove to a plate , cover with foil and place in the warmed oven whilst you cook the remaining pancakes in the same way.

Serving Suggestions:
Sprinkle each pancake with sugar, squeeze over fresh lemon or orange juice roll, or fold in four and garnish with lemon or orange wedges.
Spread with Jam and roll or fold in four.

posted by Londons Premier Tour Operator @ 2:57 PM