Friday, August 3, 2012

Why we Eat Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday

By Ben Panny


Previously Christians used to visit church to confess their sins and had been absolved from them. This was called "Shriven" or "Shrive". Later this was shortened to Shrove. That's why these days Pancake Day is identified as Shrove Tuesday. But why do we consume pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

Christians think that Lent celebrated Jesus' 40 days in wilderness and that is why they mark this period by fasting. Shrove Tuesday was the perfect day to use up the ingredients that were given up for Lent: butter, milk, flour and of course eggs. Pancakes were a dish that could use up all the eggs, butter and milk within the home with just the addition of flour. A pancake was, in those calorie-starved days, deemed a luxury.

In United Kingdom the custom of creating and consuming pancakes on Shrove Tuesday falls in between 2nd of February and 9th of March. The date of Shrove Tuesday depends on the date of Easter. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in many countries. New Orleans as an example has Mardi Gras, and Rio de Janeiro equally raucous carnival. Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday is known as 'Fasnacht' in Germany what means the night of the fast. In Italy it is actually named 'Carnivale' from the Latin for 'goodbye to the flesh'. Mardi Gras is celebrated not merely in New Orleans but in Brazil and Australia.

Catholics created huge tradition around Shrove Tuesday. It has become colourful variety of Carnivals around the globe. And also the word 'carnival' is linked to fasting for Lent. One particular interpretation of this word says that it came from the Latin 'Caro Vale' that implies "Farewell Meat". And not merely eating pancakes on a Shrove Tuesday is a popular tradition. At St. Columb Major in Cornwall, rival villages have a custom of playing 'Hurling the Silver Bell', making use of a ball of applewood covered in silver. In Scarborough, local folks enjoy the customs of 'Ringing the Pancake Bell' and 'Shrovetide Skipping'. Folks arrange long skipping ropes across the promenade and up to ten individuals have to skip at one time.

In Venice the tradition of Carnival is extremely old. Carnivals have already been taking place because 1268 only with a couple of centuries interruption. Carnivals in Venice are incredibly well-liked primarily due to the tradition of wearing masks. These masks have even longer history than the Carnival. Masks were the symbol of protest against oppressive circumstances in this small city. The Carnival nearly vanished in the 18th century nevertheless it was once again celebrated immediately after new masks were marketed in the shops in the 1980s.

Germany has its very ritualistic Carnival and featuring parades, funny speeches and floats. Today, German Carnival is becoming more and more well-liked tourist attraction. It is actually even at times compared to Munich's Oktoberfest. German Carnival is so unique also because it begins at November 11th at 11:11. Carnival could be cancelled. Last time it was cancelled in 1991 to show the protest against the US war in Iraq.




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