International Pancake Day

If you're a fan of pancakes, you shouldn't miss today, National Pancake Day. Pancake Day (Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday) is also known in other countries as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday (Fat Tuesday in English, Mardi Gras in French or Fasnacht in German) before Ash Wednesday is a Christian day. Pancake Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday) is not fixed but varies from year to year depending on Ash Wednesday.

The name Pancake Day comes from the fact that that day people will eat and drink happily before entering Lent (the season of penance). Since the Middle Ages, they used eggs, butter and milk to make pancakes. These ingredients are prohibited for use during Lent. Therefore, on the last day before Lent, everyone will come together to make pancakes and enjoy the festive atmosphere with activities around the theme of this cake.

The birth of Pancake Day

Lent in Christianity means that people will abstain from eggs and dairy products. Therefore, people will eat a huge meal of fatty dishes made of eggs, milk and meat before starting to abstain from them for many days then extending until Easter.

Pancake is a thin cake made from flour that is fried until golden brown on both sides. It is often served with golden syrup or lemon juice or added to other toppings depending on the preference of the user.

People found the first pancake recipe from 1439 and took a very long time to exist and be loved until now. There are 4 main ingredients in pancakes, each of which is said to represent 4 important meanings:

Eggs – Creation

Flour- Bread (representing the basic food that feeds people)

Salt – Desire to live

Milk – Purity

The Irish and people in other European countries celebrate holidays according to the Pagan tradition. Later, those customs were accepted as part of Christianity. During the Pagan period, Eastern Europeans and Russians held spring festivals throughout the week to celebrate the end of the cold winter. They eat pancakes and play fun carnival games. It is said that the round shape and yellow color of the pancakes represent the Sun. Warm sunshine and the light of the Sun dispel the cold winter days and herald the arrival of spring. That is why people living in ancient times worshiped and praised the Sun.

Pancake Tuesday in Ireland

In some European countries, this day is not simply Pancake Tuesday but it is considered a time to celebrate the spring festival (carnival). People celebrate Shrove Tuesday with parties and parades in the streets. In Australia, people usually eat thinner pancakes while in Canada, people celebrate with sausages and bacon. In Switzerland, people eat almond buns (marzipan buns) called 'semla'. As for the Poles, eat donuts or 'faworki' as a main course.

The Irish started Pancake Day (Pancake Tuesday) in the 80s and continues to this day. In Ireland and the UK, this day is often celebrated at home with small, thin, crispy pancake-like pancakes made with eggs, flour and butter with sweet toppings.

Observing International Pancake Day

The recipe for making pancakes is quite simple, just plain flour, salt, eggs, milk and butter. You can easily find pancake recipes from simple to more complex and delicious variations online. Or the fastest way is to go to the supermarket to buy pre-mixed pancake flour because on this day, go to any supermarket or convenience store, you can easily find pancake flour displayed in the most conspicuous place. Use it to make your own pancakes to make your confession day more authentic. Or you live in one of the Commonwealth countries, you can participate in a pancake eating contest during the festival. Share them on social media with the hashtag #InternationalPancakeDay.