What is Pancake day in Ireland?

Pancake day is celebrated this year the 28th of February (TODAY!) which is also known as Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Pancake day is celebrated in all Ireland to celebrate the last day of eating sugar and fatty stuff before to start of Lent on Ash Wednesday-the 40 days leading up to Easter .  So be sure that you have all you need for your pancakes, you already got you lemon and sugar, or, maybe, your Nutella?

But what this tradition come from? 

Tuesday Shrove was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, the term Shrove comes from “shriven” a time when the Christians went to confession to be absolved from their sins. In United Kingdom and Ireland this day is known of Pancake Tuesday but also in celebrated in other catholic countries but with other traditions.

For example, in Germany is known as Fastnachtsdienstag (Violet Tuesday) celebrated with fancy dress and partial school holiday. In other countries as in Spain, Italy and Portugal is celebrated Carnival where they use to celebrate with street processions and fancy dresses.

The Irish tradition is to eat pancakes with sugar and lemon

Why pancakes?

Pancake Tuesday is celebrated by eating pancakes because was the way to use rich food such as eggs, milk and sugar before the season of 40 days of Lent. In addition, pancakes, in Christianity, symbolize “four pillars of the Christian faith—eggs for creation, flour as the mainstay of the human diet, salt for wholesomeness and milk for purity.”

Are you ready to eat as many pancakes as you can???

The best pancake recipe

Ingredients

125g of plain flour

2 eggs, medium sized

300ml of milk

Pinch of salt

Method

• Beat the eggs together with a fork
• Pour the flour into a bowl and make a well in the middle
• Pour the eggs into the well and whisk together
• Gradually, add in the milk
• Put the mixture in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
• Rub oil around a non-stick pan
• Ladle out your mixture – one ladle equals one pancake
• After a couple of minutes, give your pancake a jiggle and when it no longer sticks give it a flip to do the other side