Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday is a holiday where it is traditional to eat loads of pancakes, earning it the nickname Pancake Day.

But why is Shrove Tuesday associated with the sweet treats?

In the Christian calendar, Shrove Tuesday marks the beginning of the run-up to Easter, otherwise known as Lent.

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The 40-day period of Lent is traditionally observed as a period of self-discipline and people tend to give up a bad habit or vice until Easter begins.

This could include things such as eating luxurious food, so many eat pancakes as a last bit of self-indulgence before starting their Lent diet - but that's not all there is to it.

There are many luxurious foods, so why do people traditionally choose to eat pancakes as their last indulgent food for 40 days?

Historically, Shrove Tuesday marked a day where people had to prepare for Lent, and since people were not going to be baking cakes or other sweet treats for over a month they needed to get rid of any leftover items that would go out of date.

Thus enters the pancake, it's a quick and easy treat that uses eggs, milk and sugar - a practical solution to using up rich ingredients.

As time has gone on, pancakes have become synonymous with Shrove Tuesday and are integral to the celebration.

Some communities even choose to do a pancake race where people have to race each other while holding a frying pan with pancakes in it.