CELEBRATING BRITAIN
A traditional Shrove Tuesday isn’t just about pancakes
Shrove Tuesday was originally a religious festival, when a bell called people to attend confession, where they were ‘shriven’ (forgiven their sins).
The day was originally referred to as Shriven Tuesday, and subsequently Shrove Tuesday.
As Lent approached, people would use up fattening foods in preparation for a period of fasting. Perishable staples like eggs and milk needed to be consumed quickly, and using them to make pancakes was an ideal solution. The ingredients also had religious connotations. Eggs symbolised creation, flour represented ‘the staff of life’, milk was associated with purity and salt was connected to wholesomeness.
In the UK, we celebrate the day now with a variety of traditions, some more well known than others, as we explain.
FOOTY ON A GRAND SCALE
In Ashbourne, Derbyshire, a Royal Shrovetide Football Game kicks off at 2pm and continues right into the evening. The goals are placed three miles apart and, due to the liveliness of the game, shop windows are boarded up.
The specially made ball is the prize for the winning goalscorer.
And, as if playing all afternoon on Shrove Tuesday isn’t enough, another match takes place on Ash Wednesday!
Similarly, in Alnwick, Northumberland, a large-scale football match, known as Scoring the Hales, has been played between the parishes of St Michael and St Paul since at least 1762, with each team comprising roughly 150 people. Whichever team scores two goals (hales) first wins, after which the ball is thrown into the River Aln. Whoever manages to get it out at the far side of the river is allowed to keep the ball – but they have to swim across the river to retrieve it!
Wacky races
One of the most famous pancake races is in Olney, Buckinghamshire. It was first run in 1445. The womenonly participants wear aprons and caps or headscarves as they run the 379.5m distance from the marketplace to the church with frying pans containing hot pancakes.
Contenders must toss their pancakes three times as they sprint. The first participant to serve their pancake to the church bell-ringer is declared the winner.
At noon in Scarborough, Yorkshire, a pancake bell is rung – a clarion call for the townsfolk to gather for p
