Pancake Day

With a rich history dating back hundreds of years, Pancake Day combines a delightful sense of celebration and fun with some deep and meaningful components.

Always observed on the day before the religious holiday, Ash Wednesday, Pancake Day is associated with some other names, such as Shrove Tuesday (in the UK), Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday.

Now it’s time to learn about and celebrate the beauty of Pancake Day!

History of Pancake Day

Pancake Day has its roots in its association with Ash Wednesday, which is celebrated as the first day of Lent. Lent is a religious season of fasting that is observed by people of the Christian faith prior to Easter.

With the number 40 having religious significance in Christianity, Lent is observed for 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays–making it 46 days prior to Easter.

Traditionally, on this day a bell would be rung to call Christians to church before Lent to be absolved of their sins, or “shriven”, which is where the term Shrove Tuesday came from. This is a day of confession in the church.

Because Lent is meant to be a season of abstinence, back in 600 AD, Pope Gregory declared that Christians should abstain from eating meat, or other animal products during the entire Lent season, beginning on Ash Wednesday.

Essentially, Pancake Day developed out of the practical need to use up all of the remaining eggs, butter, milk or other animal products that were in the house before Lent began.

So families began to look for what they could make quickly and easily that would use up these ingredients. And, at least in England and Ireland, the result turned into a day to make–and, of course, eat–copious numbers of pancakes!

How to Celebrate Pancake Day

Observing Pancake Day is certainly a delight for those who get involved with making and enjoying eating pancakes. Try out some of these fun ideas for celebrating, or come up with your own:

Make Pancakes at Home

Even for people who don’t consider themselves to be masters in the kitchen, pancakes are a fairly simple recipe that is fun to cook. Simply mix up a recipe that includes flour, eggs, butter or oil, milk or water, and a bit of sugar. For a fluffier, American-style pancake, baking powder might be used as a leavening agent and the pancakes will be a bit thicker.

Once the batter is mixed up, it can be poured in small or large portions onto a hot griddle and flipped so that each side is golden brown. Those who want to take part in a Pancake Day tradition will often practice the flipping portion ceremoniously and attach it to a variety of ideas about luck and fortune in the coming year.

Top them with lemon juice and powdered sugar for a British feel, or with maple syrup like Canadians or Americans.

Learn Fun Traditions About Pancake Day

Pancake Day comes with all kinds of different and fun traditions that families and cultures have included in celebration, like these:

• In Ireland, the tradition was that the Irish girls were given the afternoon off or work and the oldest unmarried girl of the family would toss the first pancake. If she was successful in flipping it, it was a sign that she would be married within the year.
• In Lithuania, similar to trick-or-treating for Halloween, people celebrating on this day might dress up in fancy costumes, play pranks, sing, dance and generally enjoy the day. Plus, they may also walk around begging to be given pancakes or money.
• Pancake flipping contests and races are a fun way that many people in England, Ireland and perhaps all over the world compete in races where they run while flipping their pancakes. Now that takes a lot of skill!
• In Scotland, special oatmeal pancakes (or ‘bannocks’) were cooked with a charm added into the batter. If an unmarried person found it in the cake they were eating, it was good luck and meant they would be married in the next year.

Go to an IHOP Restaurant for Pancake Day

Some restaurants that offer pancakes on their menu may be offering discounts, special prices, or unique menu items in celebration of Pancake Day. One such restaurant is the International House of Pancakes.

Most of the time, the celebratory offering for Pancake Day at IHOP includes offering free pancakes. Each guest who visits IHOP on this day can receive a free short stack (consisting of 3) of fluffy, buttermilk pancakes to go along with the rest of their meal. Plus, IHOP also uses the day for good by accepting donations and raising money for kids with medical needs through the Children’s Miracle Network, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

With most of their locations in the United States, IHOP also has restaurants in Mexico and Canada, South America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, making it an option for people in many parts of the world to celebrate Pancake Day!

Try a New Pancake Recipe for Pancake Day

Though this is certainly a day for tradition, it might also be one to think beyond the norm! Pancakes are a delightfully simple recipe that can be altered and embellished in a variety of creative ways. Try out some of these ideas for adding a bit of zing to the ordinary pancake recipe:

• S’Mores Pancakes. Marshmallow fluff, chocolate chips and some graham cracker crumbs turn plain old pancakes into something unique and exciting that is reminiscent of being gathered around a campfire.
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate Pancakes. A delight for the senses, this recipe includes chocolate sauce and chocolate chips in the batter, as well as mini marshmallows and crushed peppermint candies sprinkled on top. Indulgent and delicious!

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Enjoy the sweetness with a balance of cheese with this light and fluffy recipe. Simply mix ricotta cheese and lemon zest into the batter, add fresh or frozen blueberries, and top with powdered sugar after cooking.

Need some inspiration?

Check out these videos for some extra inspiration in getting involved!