Shrove Tuesday is just around the corner and for many Christians, February 17, 2026 will mean pancakes for supper!
In 2023, I did a bit of research on the origins of Shrove Tuesday. I knew that Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day, Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras) preceded Ash Wednesday when many folks give up something that they love as a sort of penance during Lent. Historically, it would be rich food of some sort that was given up and your Shrove Tuesday meal would be your last kick at the rich food can, so to speak.
As I noted then, this just made me all the more curious why anyone would choose pancakes as their last tasty meal!
And here’s what I discovered in 2023 with my first delve into pancake history. One Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in 1445, in a village in the UK called Olney, a lady was in the middle of cooking up some pancakes for supper as the church bells rang out indicating that it was time for confession (where one would be “shriven” or absolved of sin). She ran to the Church in her apron, clutching her frying pan full of pancakes. I’m sure there’s a story there and I would love to hear it, as to why she did this!
But now, centuries later, in many parts of the UK, pancake races are a big part of Shrove Tuesday celebrations. And, not surprisingly, the most famous race of all is held in Olney where local “housewives” don their aprons, hats and scarves, clutch their frying pans and race to the finish line, all the while flipping their pancake at least three times. The first woman to finish the course and arrive at the Church, serve her pancake to the bellringer and kiss him wins the race.
This year, I did a little more digging and discovered that the reason that poor lady in Olney was cooking pancakes on Shrove Tuesday was because Pope Gregory, around 600AD, made a rule instructing Christians to abstain from eating all forms of meat and animal products during Lent. He sent a letter to Saint Augustine of Canterbury, the founder of the Christian Church in southern England, instructing him to enforce those rules in England. Thus, animal products including eggs, milk and butter, had to be used up before Lent. And what are you going to add to eggs, milk and butter, but a good dose of flour -- and lo and behold you have a pancake! Before long, the French picked up on this tradition and Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras was born.
So while I previously gave credit to the ladies of Olney for having a hand in coming up with the notion of pancakes being the meal of choice on the Tuesday before Lent, I must now acknowledge that the pancake would likely not have been in that pan were it not for Pope Gregory and his 600AD missive.
Actual pancake recipes can be traced back to Roman times. The main ingredients – milk, butter, eggs – were considered “rich” ingredients which, I guess, accounts for their becoming the “rich” meal of choice.
I still think choosing pancakes over, say, a nice juicy steak and maybe some chocolate as your last rich meal for a while would make much more sense than choosing pancakes. But I guess if you slather on some butter, a good dose of maple syrup, add some sausage and beans and a little ginger bread with topping, for dessert, I could make it work!
And so could you, if you join us in the Cathedral Hall on February 17th, where the Guild of St. Joseph will be offering all of this plus tea and coffee! Admission is by freewill donation and everyone is welcome.
-- by Gail MacGillivray
Celebrate the beginning of Lent by attending Christ Church Cathedral’s Shrove Tuesday pancake supper at Cathedral Memorial Hall on February 17, 2026 from 4:30-6:30 pm. Enjoy pancakes, sausages, and beans followed by gingerbread with toppings. Coffee and tea will be available. Admission is through freewill donation. Everyone is welcome, so bring your friends and family!
