The expression 'Shrove' comes from the word shrive, meaning 'to absolve'. Lent is a time of penitence where people show their devotion by avoiding luxury foods and worldly riches for 40 days and nights. It references Jesus Christ's time in the wilderness where he fasted and fought off the temptations of Satan.
In order to prepare for the fast, people needed to clear their larders of luxury foods which, in pre-refridgeration days, would go off. So they'd cook it all up in a big Lenten feast. This is also the origin of the term Mardi Gras - it's French for 'Fat Tuesday'. The most famous Mardi Gras celebrations take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where it is celebrated with a carnival. And the word 'carnival' also relates to Lent as it derives from the phrase carne vale ('farewell to flesh'). In Spain, the Carnival Tuesday is named día de la tortilla ('omelette day').
In the UK, the last day before Lent was traditionally spent getting bad behaviour 'out of the system' by playing violent but joyous 'mob' sports. A number of towns still maintain this tradition, including Alnwick in Northumberland (Scoring the Hales), Ashbourne in Derbyshire (Royal Shrovetide Football), Atherstone in Warwickshire (the Atherstone Ball Game), St Columb Major in Cornwall (Hurling the Silver Ball), and Sedgefield in County Durham (Sedgefield Ball Game).
And, of course, there are pancake races.
Pancakes are an easy way to get rid of perishable foods like eggs, flour, butter, milk and whatever you fancy for a filling. Consequently, they were a common Shrovetide meal.
Tradition has it that Pancake Races originated in Olney, Buckinghamshire, in 1445 when a housewife was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake, tossing it to prevent it from burning. Another tells that the gift of pancakes may have been a bribe to the Ringer, or Sexton that he might ring the bell sooner; for ringing the bell signalled the beginning of the day’s holiday and enjoyment, no less than to summon the people to the service at which they would be shriven of their sins before the long Lenten fast.
The race continued through the centuries, and whilst many other local customs died, and the race itself may have lapsed many times, such lapses never caused the race to be entirely forgotten by the womenfolk of Olney. It is known to have taken place during the troublesome times of The War of the Roses (1445 to 1487). And, after an understandable lapse during the Second World War, it was revived again in 1948 by Reverend Canon Ronald Collins, vicar of Olney. While clearing out a cupboard he came across some old photographs, which had obviously been taken in the 1920s and 1930s of local women running with frying pans. Filled with enthusiasm to revive the ancient custom, he called for volunteers and 13 runners appeared on Shrove Tuesday that year. The race immediately caught the popular imagination and people of Olney have been doing it ever since. The Covid lockdowns caused another break in tradition these past few years but it's now back and as popular as ever.
The modern pancake race at Olney has women contestants who race over a 415-yard course to the finishing line. The rules are strict: contestants must toss the pancake at the start and the finish, and wear a scarf and apron. In 1950 the race became an international event when a challenge was received from the town of Liberal in Kansas, USA. They had seen press photographs of the race at Olney and decided to mirror the British event. It was then suggested that they battle it out and, in a spirit of international goodwill and friendship, the two towns now compete annually and prizes are exchanged. The two towns' competitors race along an agreed-upon measured course and their times are compared to determine a winner overall.
A similar race is held in North Somercotes in Lincolnshire and, in London, the Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race takes place every Shrove Tuesday, with teams from the British lower house (the House of Commons), the upper house (the House of Lords), and the Fourth Estate, contending for the title of Parliamentary Pancake Race Champions. The fun relay race is to raise awareness of Rehab, which provides a range of health and social care, training, education, and employment services in the UK for disabled people and others who are marginalised. There's an amazing costumed race in Spitalfields in London too.
In Scarborough they close the foreshore to all traffic, closing schools early, and invite everyone to skip. Traditionally, long ropes were used from the nearby harbour. The town crier rang the pancake bell, situated on the corner of Westborough (main street) and Huntriss Row. Since 1996 a replica 'pancake bell' situated at Newborough and North Street has been rung to initiate the day's festivities.
The children of the hamlet of Whitechapel, Lancashire keep alive a local tradition by visiting local households and asking 'please a pancake', to be rewarded with oranges or sweets. It is thought the tradition arose when farm workers visited the wealthier farm and manor owners to ask for pancakes or pancake fillings. Shrove Tuesday in England often involved a form of ritual begging, not dissimilar to wassailing, in which children and adolescents would go door-to-door asking for tidbits from the frying pan. If the household was not forthcoming, they could expect levels of mischief, including the pelting of their house, knock and run, or gate stealing. This was known as Lent Crocking, Nicky-Nan Night, The Drawing of Cloam, Dappy-Door Night, or Pan Sharding.
Happy shriving! I'll leave you with my good chum John Dredge and his band, The Plinths, and their anthem Pancake Day.
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