Scarborough: How Shrove Tuesday became Skipping Day

The tradition has continued for over a century

It might be Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday, but in Scarborough the day is marked with skipping rather than pancakes.

The North Yorkshire town’s Skipping Day has its origins in the days when servants and labourers would be given a half day off for Lent.

In Scarborough, they would spend their free time playing a medieval variation of football on the beach.

Ball Day, as it became known, developed into a large event over time.

Stalls would be established to sell things to the large crowds, including toys such as skipping ropes for the children.

Those children soon started playing their own games as the adults played football.

Scarborough traditionally celebrates Shrove Tuesday with Skipping DayPeople of all ages take part in the annual Skipping Day

The first official record of Skipping Day was not until 1903, when it is believed local fishermen would give the children some of their old fishing ropes to play with on the beach.

Stewart MacDonald, local historian at the Maritime Heritage Centre in Scarborough, said the event was “all about having a bit of fun”.

“People in the local area take a lot of pride in Skipping Day every year because it belongs to Scarborough,” he added.

For the annual event the Foreshore Road is closed off and long, heavy ropes are set out for people, sometimes as many as eight at a time, to skip over.

It all begins with the ringing of the Pancake Bell at 12:00 GMT and also features pancake races and fancy dress costumes, with the pancakes provided by the local Sea Cadets.

The event has always attracted large crowds

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