‘Is Pancake Day a real thing?!’ Britain’s obsession with the February celebration – including the quest for the perfect batter and favourite toppings – leaves people overseas baffled
- February 21st marks Mardi Gras in Christian countries around the world
- Brits make and flip pancakes in celebration much to the surprise of other nations
- Read more: Pancake Day recipe guide! From all-American stacks to cocktail-inspired crêpes, FEMAIL reveals how to whip up a feast on Shrove Tuesday
Britons celebrating Pancake Day seem to have left much of the rest of the world bemused with their dedication to the annual February celebration.
While most Christian countries are marking Mardi Gras – ‘Fat Tuesday’ – with carnival-style festivities, Brits are instead flipping up a storm with a frying pan and spoonfuls of batter in the kitchen.
A outpouring of love for Pancake Day on social media – including airfryer variations on the traditional crepe and tossing disasters – have sparked some befuddlement around the globe.
On Twitter, @nourrris quizzed: ‘Is pancake day a real thing? I thought it was just something British people did once and never again.’
There was envy too; @felixfinchless bemoaned the lack of such a day in their own country, tweeting: ‘I want a pancake day 🙁 ‘
Flipping bemused? Memes highlighting Britain’s Shrove Tuesday tradition – making pancakes – are being share on social media, contrasting with the way the rest of the Christian world celebrates – carnivale
In the Christian calendar, the day marks a final day of feasting before Lent officially begins tomorrow.
And so far today, social media is showing that our love of the traditional Mardi Gras treat – fluffy discs of flour, milk and eggs whisked together and quickly fried – is as strong as ever.
@outrotearnation was shocked at just how many people in the UK were planning on marking the day, with either pancakes for breakfast, or a post-dinner feast this evening – with recipes including cocktail-inspired crepes or stacks of American-style pancakes.
READ MORE: The Ultimate Pancake Day recipe guide! From all-American stacks to cocktail-inspired crêpes, FEMAIL reveals how to whip up a feast
Bonne Maman’s lemond curd and raspberry crepes are ideal for beginners wanting to make their own
They wrote: ‘I‘ve never heard this many people point out an upcoming holiday besides Christmas.’
Others poked fun at how Brits make them; @OliverDobbs98 jibed: ‘Looking forward to watching British people eating crepes tomorrow and calling them pancakes with no shame at all.’
Others tried to initiate those who were confused. One person wrote: ‘Originally it has catholic and other religious roots but generally it’s just one day a year where people eat pancakes for dinner nowadays :)’.
@tinyyblush was impressed, saying, i capital letters: ‘I want this in my country!’
Pancakes aren’t the only Shrove Tuesday traditions in the UK though.
The day – always 47 days before Easter Sunday – also sees Brits in northern England marking the day with a centuries-old game of football.
In Ashbourne, Derbyshire, the Royal Shrovetide Football game is taking place.
It sees the Up’ards (those born upwards of the river) and the Down’ards (those born downwards) take to the streets where they compete to tap a ball three times on stone plinths which act as goals.
The annual two-day spectacle, which sees players carry the ball across a boundary-free pitch as volunteer stewards keep a watchful eye, has been played from at least 1667 and looks more like a game of rugby than football.
As the players run from opposite ends of the town for the fierce game, local shops close early and board up as if preparing for a riot.
The match is played from 2 to 10 pm on both Shrove Tuesday and the following day, Ash Wednesday, but goals are rare because of the size of the pitch.
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