By Ben Panny
Previously Christians used to visit church to confess their sins and had been absolved from them. This was named "Shriven" or "Shrive". Later this was shortened to Shrove. That's why currently Pancake Day is identified as Shrove Tuesday. But why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?
Christians believe that Lent celebrated Jesus' 40 days in wilderness and that's why they mark this period by fasting. Shrove Tuesday was the ideal day to use up the ingredients that were given up for Lent: butter, milk, flour and of course eggs. Pancakes had been a dish that could use up all of the eggs, butter and milk in the home with just the addition of flour. A pancake was, in those calorie-starved days, regarded as a luxury.
In United Kingdom the custom of making and eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday falls in between 2nd of February and 9th of March. The date of Shrove Tuesday depends on the date of Easter. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in several countries. New Orleans for instance has Mardi Gras, and Rio de Janeiro equally raucous carnival. Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday is known as 'Fasnacht' in Germany what indicates the night of the fast. In Italy it is actually called 'Carnivale' from the Latin for 'goodbye to the flesh'. Mardi Gras is celebrated not only in New Orleans but in Brazil and Australia.
Catholics developed substantial tradition around Shrove Tuesday. It has turn into colourful variety of Carnivals around the planet. As well as the word 'carnival' is related to fasting for Lent. One meaning of this word states that it originated from the Latin 'Caro Vale' that means "Farewell Meat". And not merely eating pancakes on a Shrove Tuesday is a well known tradition. At St. Columb Major in Cornwall, rival villages possess a tradition of playing 'Hurling the Silver Bell', making use of a ball of applewood covered in silver. In Scarborough, local people delight in the customs of 'Ringing the Pancake Bell' and 'Shrovetide Skipping'. Individuals set up long skipping ropes across the promenade and as much as 10 individuals must skip at one time.
In Venice the tradition of Carnival is really old. Carnivals have already been taking place because 1268 only with a handful of centuries interruption. Carnivals in Venice are really preferred mainly because of the tradition of wearing masks. These masks have even longer history than the Carnival. Masks were the symbol of protest against oppressive conditions in this little city. The Carnival almost vanished in the 18th century however it was once more celebrated after new masks had been sold in the shops in the 1980s.
Germany has its highly ritualistic Carnival and featuring parades, funny speeches and floats. Today, German Carnival is becoming more and more popular tourist attraction. It's even at times compared to Munich's Oktoberfest. German Carnival is so distinctive also mainly because it begins at November 11th at 11:11. Carnival could be cancelled. Last time it was cancelled in 1991 to show the protest against the US war in Iraq.
About the Author:
The author is obsessed about homemade pancakes and features a whole website devoted to it. It features recipes and pancake facts like why do we eat pancakes on a shrove tuesday (http://www.homemade-pancakes.com/why-do-we-eat-pancakes-on-a-shrove-tuesday) among others. For more of homemade pancakes, click national pancake day (http://www.homemade-pancakes.com/national-pancake-day) .
Previously Christians used to visit church to confess their sins and had been absolved from them. This was named "Shriven" or "Shrive". Later this was shortened to Shrove. That's why currently Pancake Day is identified as Shrove Tuesday. But why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?
Christians believe that Lent celebrated Jesus' 40 days in wilderness and that's why they mark this period by fasting. Shrove Tuesday was the ideal day to use up the ingredients that were given up for Lent: butter, milk, flour and of course eggs. Pancakes had been a dish that could use up all of the eggs, butter and milk in the home with just the addition of flour. A pancake was, in those calorie-starved days, regarded as a luxury.
In United Kingdom the custom of making and eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday falls in between 2nd of February and 9th of March. The date of Shrove Tuesday depends on the date of Easter. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in several countries. New Orleans for instance has Mardi Gras, and Rio de Janeiro equally raucous carnival. Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday is known as 'Fasnacht' in Germany what indicates the night of the fast. In Italy it is actually called 'Carnivale' from the Latin for 'goodbye to the flesh'. Mardi Gras is celebrated not only in New Orleans but in Brazil and Australia.
Catholics developed substantial tradition around Shrove Tuesday. It has turn into colourful variety of Carnivals around the planet. As well as the word 'carnival' is related to fasting for Lent. One meaning of this word states that it originated from the Latin 'Caro Vale' that means "Farewell Meat". And not merely eating pancakes on a Shrove Tuesday is a well known tradition. At St. Columb Major in Cornwall, rival villages possess a tradition of playing 'Hurling the Silver Bell', making use of a ball of applewood covered in silver. In Scarborough, local people delight in the customs of 'Ringing the Pancake Bell' and 'Shrovetide Skipping'. Individuals set up long skipping ropes across the promenade and as much as 10 individuals must skip at one time.
In Venice the tradition of Carnival is really old. Carnivals have already been taking place because 1268 only with a handful of centuries interruption. Carnivals in Venice are really preferred mainly because of the tradition of wearing masks. These masks have even longer history than the Carnival. Masks were the symbol of protest against oppressive conditions in this little city. The Carnival almost vanished in the 18th century however it was once more celebrated after new masks had been sold in the shops in the 1980s.
Germany has its highly ritualistic Carnival and featuring parades, funny speeches and floats. Today, German Carnival is becoming more and more popular tourist attraction. It's even at times compared to Munich's Oktoberfest. German Carnival is so distinctive also mainly because it begins at November 11th at 11:11. Carnival could be cancelled. Last time it was cancelled in 1991 to show the protest against the US war in Iraq.
About the Author:
The author is obsessed about homemade pancakes and features a whole website devoted to it. It features recipes and pancake facts like why do we eat pancakes on a shrove tuesday (http://www.homemade-pancakes.com/why-do-we-eat-pancakes-on-a-shrove-tuesday) among others. For more of homemade pancakes, click national pancake day (http://www.homemade-pancakes.com/national-pancake-day) .