Pancake Day Traditions

In one guise or another, pancakes have been cooked for years. In the UK, Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Pancake Day, is a tradition where we use the last of the cupboard staples up in order to prepare for lent - a month of fasting and repentance.

Pancake day is a day adored by kids but same tradition is celebrated all over the world and it looks very different in countries such as France and Brazil. 

But did you know that the annual festivities of Mardi Gras also celebrate the same event? Different cultures celebrated the last day before Lent in their own ways, adapting the practices to suit their cultures.

In France, the holiday became particularly popular as people feasted on foods that would be given up during the forty days of Lent. Meats, eggs, and milk were finished off in one day, giving the holiday the French title of 'Mardi Gras' which when translated means Fat Tuesday.

The passion filled dancing in Rio De Janeiro and the wide smiles and outrageous costumes in New Orleans are a vivid celebration of the last days before the start of lent and a far cry from the humble pancake. When you compare the festivities of the carnivals, it seems like the UK may have got the short straw…. Or have we?

Here at Spice Pots, we’ve created a delicious blend of sweet Spices that are perfect for elevating the traditional pancake recipe.  Maybe this year will be the perfect opportunity to try something different and start your own tradition.

Sweet blends pancake recipe here or our Savoury Recipe here.