Pancake Day is more formally known as Shrove Tuesday, and sometimes referred to as Mardi Gras, and is followed by Ash Wednesday which is the first day of Lent.
The festival derives from the idea of using up all the fattier and richer foods before sacrificing them for 40 days before Easter. Pancakes tick all the boxes, however nowadays the practice has become less about religious beliefs and more about making dinner time more special and exciting for kids.Over 100 million of these thin, flat, fried delights are scoffed in the UK alone - think of the quantities of milk and eggs needed!
In other countries there are different rituals. For example, Poland celebrates Fat Thursday the week before Ash Wednesday. And forget pancakes, it is all about consuming donuts, endlessly!
How about eating pea soup in Estonia, or salted meat in Iceland?
Do you have any traditions on this day? What do you prefer to eat? And will you be giving anything up for Lent?
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