Do you really know? What is Pancake Day?
Mar 3, 2026
A quick look at Pancake Day and why it falls on a different date each year. The link between Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and the 40 days of Lent is explained. The show traces pancake-making back to medieval kitchen practices and highlights pancake races, Mardi Gras traditions and carnival roots around the world.
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Pancake Day Marks Last Day Before Lent
- Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) marks the last day of permitted excess before Lent begins the next day with Ash Wednesday.
- It ties to 40 days of prayer and fasting recalling the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, ending at Easter Sunday.
Pancakes Used To Use Up Rich Foods
- Making pancakes historically used up rich ingredients like butter, eggs and milk before the Lenten fast.
- The practice dates back to at least the Middle Ages as a practical way to avoid wasting perishable goods.
Customs Vary But Share A Feast Theme
- Shrove Tuesday customs vary globally; other countries eat doughnuts, omelettes or pastries instead of pancakes.
- In the UK pancake races add spectacle: participants run in fancy dress flipping pancakes in a frying pan.