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What is Shrove Tuesday?
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday which marks the start of Lent, a period of liturgical fasting for forty days. Shrove Tuesday is a day of penitence and the last chance to feast and celebrate before Lent. Traditionally it was the last opportunity to use eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast and pancakes were the perfect way of using up these ingredients. Shrove Tuesday comes from the ritual of shriving where Christians would confess their sins in order to receive absolution. The absolution would release them from the guilt and pain their sins have caused them.
Some parts of Britain celebrate the day with pancake races. The oldest and most famous is held at Olney in Buckinghamshire. The race is run over 415 yards by women aged sixteen or older. They must flip their pancake in the frying pan at least three times during the race. The winner receives a kiss from the Pancake Bell Ringer – church bells were traditionally rung to remind parishioners to come to confession – and a prayer book from the vicar.
In other parts of the world Shrove Tuesday is known as Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”) marks the end of Carnival celebrations which started 12 days after Christmas on Twelfth Night (6 January). Mardi Gras is precisely 46 days before Easter and can fall anytime between 3 February and 9 March.
Carnival Time!
Carnival is the season for festivals and celebrations between Twelfth Night and Lent. It is mainly a Roman Catholic celebration though some other religions celebrate Carnival to a lesser extent. Inspiration for Carnival comes from the traditional beliefs surrounding Lent. During the period of Lent parties and certain foods are forbidden which inspired the desire for large celebrations and feasting beforehand.
Typical Carnival celebrations include public parades and street parties which encourage people to participate by dressing up or masquerading. The most well known Mardi Gras celebrations are in New Orleans, Venice and Rio de Janeiro. Carnival is an important celebration in most of Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, apart from the UK who celebrate Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day instead.
RECIPES
English Vegan Pancakes/Crepes
Yes, it’s true, you can make perfectly good pancakes without eggs or dairy! This vegan pancake recipe uses soya milk as a substitute and the result is perfect light and fluffy pancakes. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
175g self-raising flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
300ml soya milk
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Pinch of salt
Method:
Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until well mixed.
Mix in the soy milk and oil and beat together until batter is smooth.
Drop a ladleful of mixture into a well greased frying pan and tip the pan around until the mixture covers the entire base. Cook over a medium high heat. When bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake and it looks dry, tease the edges up and flip it. Cook the other side for about 2 minutes. Stack the cooked pancakes on a plate warm under a clean tea towel. They can be reheated in the oven or the microwave.
To serve, pour over syrup, agave nectar or lemon and sugar and roll up or fold into four.
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American Style Vegan Pancakes
These pancakes are the smaller thick American Style ones, light and fluffy and served in a stack, yummy!
Ingredients:
225g self-raising flour
1 tbsp caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
275ml soya milk
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
Maple syrup to serve
Method
Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until well mixed.
Pour in milk and vanilla essence until you have quite a thick batter.
Drop small ladlefuls into a lightly greased frying pan.
When bubbles appear all over the surface of the pancakes, flip them over and cook on the other side until they are browned and firm.
Keep the cooked pancakes warm under a clean tea towel.
To serve the pancakes stack them 4 or 6 high and pour over lots of maple syrup.
Compiled by EVOLVE! Campaigns – www.evolvecampaigns.org.uk
