Pancake Day 2021: Everything you need to know about Shrove Tuesday

Important announcement: It is Pancake Day on Tuesday 16 February!

It’s a day where people make lots of pancakes with all sorts of toppings and play all sorts of pancake-related games.

But why does everyone get so excited about it?

Why do we have a day where everyone eats the same thing… and why is that thing pancakes?

Pick your favourite toppings here and then leave a comment below.

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What is Pancake Day?

Pancake Day is also known as Shrove Tuesday.

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It happens on a different day every year to mark the start of the Christian festival of Lent.

Shrove Tuesday is the beginning of the 40 days leading into Easter, which will be observed on Sunday 4 April in 2021.

Lent is traditionally a time of fasting and sacrifice, and often Christian children give things up – such as chocolate.

Why do we eat pancakes?

The tradition comes from families using up all ingredients in their cupboards so that they can start Lent the next day.

The ingredients – eggs, flour and milk – used to be very common things for people to give up for Lent, so it made sense to use them all up.

These days it’s probably the toppings that we’re likely to give up – such as chocolate or sweets!

What is Lent?

In Christian tradition Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Easter

Lent is a period of 40 days where Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God and whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity.

A lot of people use Lent as a way of testing their willpower – often giving up things like chocolate or other sweet treats before Easter.

Millions of people do this as a sign of sacrifice, and Christians do it to represent Jesus Christ’s sacrifice when he went into the desert to pray and fast for the 40 days before later dying on the cross.

According to the Bible, Jesus then came back to life on Easter Sunday. This is the most important day in the Christian calendar.

What do you like on your pancakes?

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