Next Tuesday is “Pancake Day,” or as some would have it, “National Pancake Day”—which is what pancake houses everywhere would like to call it. If you’re wondering why it is Tuesday March 2, 2022 and not March 16, as it was in 2021–if you keep up with that sort of thing, there is a reason; Pancake Tuesday originated as Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Merriam-Webster describes Shrove; to administer the sacrament of reconciliation. Christians the world over observe Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent, 40 days (Sundays excluded) of penitence, fasting, or spiritual preparation before Easter —renewing— Christian disciplines of prayer, meditation, worship etc.
Shrove Tuesday is the first step toward preparing for Lent; confession of sin. For many it is Mardi Gras. New Orleans is widely known for its Mardi Gras parades and celebrations. While celebration of Mardi Gras is over 300 years old, the tossing of favors only started about 150 years ago. Then, about 100 years later, tossing beads to the crowds by women, tantalizing the crowds with full display of their mammary glands, began to be common in NOLA. But I digress.
Pancakes became the most likely last meal before Lent for a practical reason—no fat or lard could be eaten during Lent; therefore to use up those products before observing Lent, Those products were the most useful ingredients to be used in pancakes. Cooks looking for a way, not only to use up those products, but also a tasty meal. A custom for pancakes latched onto Shrove Tuesday, the night before Ash Wednesday. Although not as popular as Christmas, National Pancake Day always comes on Shrove Tuesday. Now who could have thought of that!?
Christians often follow a 40-day pattern of spiritual preparation during Lent. Before Jesus launched his earthly mission, after being baptized by John, entered the Wilderness for 40 days to prepare. Now-a-days, a plethora of churches, individuals, and books take very seriously the 40 day pattern of spiritual growth, leading up to Easter.
Here in Atlanta, we are blessed with an array of excellent sources for pancakes on Shrove Tuesday; only a few of them have “Pancake” in their name. After Paige became unable to cook, I learned to cook excellent pancakes. She sat in her wheelchair with her Good Housekeeping Cookbook in hand and read the directions to me—guaranteeing my precise measure of each ingredient—-and reminding me to “sift the flour first.” We had them every Saturday morning, (in addition to Shrove Tuesday); Blueberry pancakes, Pecan pancakes, and, of course, buttermilk pancakes.
While it is easy to go overboard with it, good food with good friends gathered in preparation for almost any adventure magnifies the importance of the camaraderie. Almost all houses of worship include space for such gatherings, emphasizing the importance of gathering with friends, food, and faith. There are several references to banquets and eating together in the Bible. Jesus even likened preparation for heaven to a banquet given by a king. Enjoy your pancakes as you launch into a new adventure in Lent.,
I had not heard of the pancake tradition. I always made “New Orleans” pralines and took them to ETSU on Mardi Gras when I was teaching there.
Two years ago, in February 2020, our small congregation gathered for our annual Fat Tuesday pancake supper. With all sorts of toppings, including syrup, fruit, whipped cream and chocolate chips, those pancakes were a feast. And the fellowship! Little did we know that in just two weeks, our country would enter a lockdown, seamstresses would create masks, and the word COVID-19 would highjack our vocabulary.
This coming Tuesday will bring us back together to launch LENT & prepare for Easter 2022. However we choose to spend those 40 days, with giving up certain foods or by “add-on” activities such as phone calls and notes of encouragement to others, it is a period of thanksgiving — that we are back together.