Pancake Day is a popular tradition that has been carried out for centuries. Coming the day before the start of Lent in the Christian calendar people turn their hand to flipping pancakes and enjoying their efforts with a host of different toppings.
It started as far back as the 16th century when people celebrated before knuckling down to the following weeks of Lent where often strict fasting rules were followed. Lasting 40 days to commemorate the 40-day fast Jesus carried out in the wilderness before starting his ministry, people stopped eating decadent foods such as meat, eggs, cheese and milk.
This meant the days running up to that time were used to clear the cupboards of foods which would not be allowed and would go off long before they could be enjoyed again. So Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, saw people using up eggs and fats before starting on their Lenten fast – and pancakes were perfect for this task.
Over the years people have continued the tradition which has seen people not only eating their creations but communities holding pancake races as part of the fun. But there is a lesser-known tradition which comes a day earlier.
Collop Monday – a collop is a thin slice of meat – comes two days before the start of Lent. People would use this day to get rid of any meats so would lean cuts such as bacon would be eaten.
When are Collop Monday and Shrove Tuesday in 2025?
Like Easter, these fall on different dates every year because it is calculated bu the cycles of the moon rather than being a set date. According to English Heritage before the 7th century, there were two ways to work out the date for Easter.
One way came from Roman missionaries, and the other came from the Irish (or Celtic) tradition. While both were worked out using the moon, they were calculated differently, meaning that there were two different dates for Easter every year!
This was very confusing for early Christians, in AD 664, there was a meeting at Whitby Abbey in Yorkshire between religious leaders in England, called the Synod of Whitby. They decided that from then on, the Roman method would be used – and it is still used by the Church of England to work out the dates for Easter and Shrove Tuesday today.
So in 2025 Good Friday, which marks the day Jesus died on the cross, is on April 18. Easter Sunday, which commemorates the day Jesus rose from the dead, is on April 20.
Lent – or Ash Wednesday – starts on March 5. This means Pancake Day is on March 4 and Collop Monday on March 4.
Traditional pancake recipe
English Heritage has come up with a traditional Victoria pancake recipe. This is what you need and how to make them.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of flour
- 142ml (a quarter pint) of milk
- 3 eggs
- Butter, for the pan
Method:
Whisk the eggs then add the milk and whisk that in too. Add the flour, one tablespoon at a time, and whisk each one in well to get rid of any lumps.
Heat a frying pan over a high heat and add a small amount of butter. Let it melt and coat the pan.
Add in some of your pancake mix and carefully tilt the pan around to coat it evenly. Cook for a minute on the first side, then flip your pancake over to do the other side.
Serve your pancakes warm with a topping of your choice. Then enjoy!