Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs, which were forbiden during this period.
Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before to Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between February 3rd and March 9th. In 2008 Pancake Day was on 5 February and in 2009 it will be on 24th February.
On this day there is a friendly little competition that consists on women running down the streets of each town flipping pancakes and it has been on for more than 50 years now. It is still the only race of its kind on the planet.
The pancake race tradition is based on the story of a woman that was very busy making pancakes when she heard the churh bells ring callinf for everyone to the shriving service. She put her head scarf (required in church at that time) and ran to the church forgetting that she was wearing the apron and was taking the pancake on the frying-pan with her.
From then on neighbours started the habit of a race to see who could reach the church first and collect a "kiss of peace" from the verger (that is the bell ringer).
Nowadays racers must still wear a head scarf and an apron and the runner must flip her pancake at the start signal, and again after crossing the finish line, to prove she still has her pancake. The kiss is stil the traditional prize.
Research by: Teresa Guerreiro, 11th C
Posted by: Teresa Guerreiro
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário