Pancake Day?

Apparently today is Pancake Day.

http://www.suite101.com/content/the-...ake-day-a96428

I was brought up Catholic, but have never heard of this. Does anyone recognize this and are you having pancakes today?

I was telling my husband about it last night and he was all over it and wants pancakes for supper tonight.

A friend of mine posted it on her Facebook and I just thought it meant she was having pancakes for breakfast.

I have heard of it. When I was in school, they always made us pancakes for lunch. I am going to make pancakes today for lunch.

This has always been practiced any place I've lived here in Canada. It is always done on "Fat Tuesday" which apparently is today. Some churches will have a pancake breakfast as well. I'm not sure of the religious meaning but I believe it signifies the start of lent. I could be wrong about that though.

In some places it's called Donut Day. The idea was to use up the fat/lard and sugar before the start of Lent.

In the Catholic faith it is called Shrove Tuesday. It occurs on the day before Ash Wednesday as the last day before Lent starts. It was a time that people cleaned out their flour and other types of food as Lent is a time of fasting and repentance.

Growing up we always had pancakes on the Tuesday and then went on the Wednesday to get our ashes at mass.

Its called Shrove tuesday, my mam makes beautiful pancakes more of a crepe style but she wont cook them anymore and im not fond of a frying pan haha

You probably knew it as Shrove Tuesday. The origins were getting rid of fats, sugar/other sweetenings, anything deemed 'decadent' by The Church for Lent. Here, it meant pancakes for supper, and doughnuts for desserts until they ran out. Mom also made some delightful deep fried confection that I don't know the English name for. We really never gave up anything because farming was even harder work in the 50s than it is now, and giving up fats when it is still winter is fairly silly when one works outside.

We are also having a similar day, not sure what to call it though. The tradition is to make buns which are cut in half and have whipped cream and almond paste (or jam) inside them. There's also some outdoors activity (sledding) involved to this. It's a very old paganish tradition to welcome spring.

I have never heard of pancake day but now I must have some, smothered in butter and syrup.
Thanks Karen.

Yeah, we Episcopalians call it Shrove Tuesday too. My sister says she's making pancakes for supper too, though I'm not a big pancake fan.

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

I was telling my husband about it last night and he was all over it and wants pancakes for supper tonight.

Click to expand...

So If I bring the Marmelade may I Join you?...

Originally Posted by jcat

In some places it's called Donut Day. The idea was to use up the fat/lard and sugar before the start of Lent.

Click to expand...

If Donuts are envolved in this, so deserves a big Coffee then!...

I am Episcopalian and today is Shrove Tuesday. I understand it's the same in the Catholic church. Many people have already commented that the reasoning behind having pancakes on this day is to use up the fat/lard and sweeteners in the house since they "should not" be used during Lent as that time is a period of reflection, fasting, and repentance.

I did make pancakes for breakfast and my church is having a large community meal this evening -- with, of course, lots of pancakes. I'm unable to attend, but I will be making crepes this evening for dinner (along with eggs so that there is some protein in my meal). And, then, tomorrow, I will attend a Lenten mass in the evening for Ash Wednesday.

I wish I was capable of making homemade donuts (I know there was just a thread about this the other day) or some of the other decadent treats listed in this thread. But, my pancakes and crepes will have to do! Yum!

In this area for a while before Lent the stores sell a pastry called paczies(sp). They're a filled donut that are exceptionally rich and large. They have them in all the usual flavors. I hadn't heard of them until I moved here. Of course I had to buy some because I hadn't heard of them. They are a little too rich for me.

Originally Posted by Denice

In this area for a while before Lent the stores sell a pastry called paczies(sp). They're a filled donut that are exceptionally rich and large. They have them in all the usual flavors. I hadn't heard of them until I moved here. Of course I had to buy some because I hadn't heard of them. They are a little too rich for me.

Click to expand...

These are a Polish tradition. Polish bakeries (and some non-Polish) make these during this time. They are only made and available usually at this time of year. A Polish lady that works with my husband always buys these from her Polish bakery and shares with all of us non-Polish folks. Good stuff!

Its called Shrove tuesday here, I did my kids pancakes and ice cream and syrup for after tea.x

I'm atheist and know it as Shrove Tuesday but always forget about it. Good excuse to have pancakes this afternoon!

I heard of it, I saw it on a greeting card and laughed, thinking it was some kind of joke.