Pancakes

[journeyman Mick]

Craig,
not sure where Mardi Gras fits in but Pancake Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent. Something to do with dietary restrictions and using up all the stuff in the pantry that couldn't be eaten and making pancakes out of the eggs and milk.

BTW, the very best way of eating pancakes is to first fry some chopped bacon in the pan until it's crispy and then pouring over your batter. Brown both sides and then serve with Dutch keuken stroop (golden syrup will do).
Try it, you'll be pleasantly suprised - they're called "spek pannekoeken" Yummy!

Mick

[simon c]

Doesn't pancake Tuesday = Fat Tuesday = Mardi Gras. Or do I have the worng end of the stick again?

Yes

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent and is 40 days before Easter.
During Lent, you are supposed to abstain from fat, dairy and meat etc.

Traditionally, you would celebrate the start of lent by eating all of the fatty foods in your larder.

In England, the day before Lent is called Shrove Tuesday and traditionally pancakes were eaten as a way of using up eggs, flour, butter etc and because they were cheap.

In other countries, Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) and Carinvale have similar backgrounds.

Simon

[simon c]

Craig,
not sure where Mardi Gras fits in but Pancake Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent. Something to do with dietary restrictions and using up all the stuff in the pantry that couldn't be eaten and making pancakes out of the eggs and milk.

Mick

Sorry Mick, I didn't read your post properly before replying to Craig - luckily what I wrote agreed with you