Pancake Day Races
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
United Kingdom
February 9, 2016 4:23pm CST
Today is Pancake Day in the UK, and it's a tradition to have pancake races in the streets.
The women must don an apron and a headscarf and race up the street tossing a pancake in a frying pan. They have to toss it at least 5 times, and if they drop it they are allowed to pick it up and carry on. Men are allowed to take part, but they must put on an apron and headscarf too!
One of my early memories is of my mother taking part in a race in our street. I was sorry when she didn't win, despite raucous encouragement from me and my sisters.
As a young woman I took part in one of these races myself, and found it was far from easy to toss a pancake whilst running as fast as you can. Needless to say that I didn't win either, even though I was a good runner.
This tradition started as a way of using up all the eggs and sugar before giving them up for Lent.
My fellow countryman @garymarsh6 has also written about pancake day, but not the races aspect of it. If you want to know more about Pancake day here is the link to his post:
I've just noticed that @Owlwings has done a post on this too so here is his link: http://www.mylot.com/post/2891247/pancake-day
Today is Shrove Tuesday the day before the start of lent or what many countries call pancake day. In France and some other countries it is known as Mardi Gras...
48 people like this
54 responses
@allknowing (130066)
• India
10 Feb 16
Here in India there is a Carnival in the State of Goa just before lent
Goa Carnival, 2016: 3 Days and 3 nights of fun & merry making in February.
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@allknowing (130066)
• India
10 Feb 16
@jaboUK No I have not. But have been there several times. Their beaches are lovely.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@allknowing My daughter has been to Goa a couple of times, but not to the carnival.
!
@marguicha (215428)
• Chile
10 Feb 16
I didn´t know about that, but tossing pancakes is not easy, even in front of the range.
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@marguicha (215428)
• Chile
10 Feb 16
@jaboUK What a waste!!! I love to eat pancakes!
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@marguicha That is so true, which is why alot of pancakes end up on the ground in the races
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@marguicha Oh there were plenty to be eaten as well, just not the ones used in the races.
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@slund2041 (3315)
• United States
10 Feb 16
Now that is interesting. I have never head of Pancake Day. I would not last long in the race, because my asthma would not allow it. I have never been one who could run.
Sorry you and your mother did not win. It does sound like fun though, even if you are not a winner.
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@slund2041 (3315)
• United States
11 Feb 16
@jaboUK It does sound like fun. I could never get past the running (due to asthma), more or less tossing a pancake in air at the same time. How many men participated since they were required to wear aprons?
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@slund2041 It's not really the winning that counts, it's just a fun day for all. Thanks for being interested.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
11 Feb 16
@slund2041 There are a few men that take part, and yes they must wear aprons, and sometimes they wear a wig instead of a headscarf.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
15 Feb 16
I have never seen a pancake race but it sounds quite interesting. I am not sure I can toss a pancake even standing still. lol
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
15 Feb 16
@jaboUK I am very impressed with your ability to toss pancakes, a talent I never suspected you had and at which I am sadly lacking. lol
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
15 Feb 16
@BelleStarr I made a real mess of the first couple I did this year! I ate them, but managed to make some good ones for my husband, expertly tossed
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@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
10 Feb 16
So I'm back to re comment. I have since made pancakes and enjoyed eating them for our supper.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@Morleyhunt Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. That's never happened to me before and they both had two comments each on. I thought I had better delete one of them. It actually posted 3 times but I was able to catch the other one before it had any comments.
I'm glad that you had pancakes too. We had ours with lemon and sugar.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
11 Feb 16
@MarshaMusselman When I pressed submit the whole thing disappeared after the circle kept going round, and it said error, so I assumed it hadn't posted. So I did it again - same thing. Third time lucky - it posted as normal. Then when I go to 'most recent' posts there it is three times!!
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@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Feb 16
@jaboUK Thanks for explaining why you appreciated her comment so much. So you had one double or it sounds like triple post two, huh? Was it because of a time out error that happens sometimes?
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
9 Feb 16
Oh what fun. I wonder if I could find a you tube video. Sounds like so much fun and laughter.Yes there are tons of them on youtube.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
@fishtiger58 I had a photo but it didn't show up - this post showed up 3 times and I had to delete the other two. One had a couple of comments on it too. Sheesh.
You've seen the pancake races on youtube? They are fun.
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@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
9 Feb 16
@jaboUK I didn't actually see anyone flipping the pancakes though. I watched a couple from Olney I think the town was. Do you suggest I look for a different town or something like that. I was looking forward to the whole flipping the pancake thing,
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
@fishtiger58 No I can't really suggest anything - Olney is the place where this tradition started so I would have thought that was the main place to look. Sorry.
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
9 Feb 16
Nice. I could imagine the race. Oh what fun! 
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
@nottoooldtowrite Everybody has a good time, and it's great watching a lot of women charging up the street with a frying pan and pancake in their hands. I had a picture, but it wouldn't take.
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
9 Feb 16
@jaboUK too bad you can't show us 
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@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Feb 16
People in the U.S. who celebrate the day before Lent starts, usually celebrate Mardi Gras. New Orleans has a big celebration, but many restaurants and other cities, such as Galveston, TX, also have Mardi Gras celebrations.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@DeborahDiane The Mardi Gras in New Orleans is world famous, isn't it? They really make a big thing of it, Pancake Day pales in comparison.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
11 Feb 16
@DeborahDiane That must have been very disappointing for your daughter, especially if she'd gone there just for the Mardi Gras.
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Feb 16
@jaboUK - Yes, Mardi Gras is world famous. One of our daughters went one time, but she hated it. She said it was just an excuse for a bunch of "drunk old men who wanted to try to feel up young girls." After the first couple of hours, she said she spent the rest of her trip in her hotel. LOL
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@countrygirl244 (20)
• United States
10 Feb 16
I have never heard of pancake day before but it sounds like a great tradition to have.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@countrygirl244 It's good to learn about other countries traditions isn't it?
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@countrygirl244 I remember the penpals of long ago too. It's so much easier now.
@countrygirl244 (20)
• United States
10 Feb 16
@jaboUK Most definitely! When my daughters were young they had about 30 penpals a piece from all over the world. Cost a fortune for postage. Now just turn on the internet & learn free of charge if someone shares.
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@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
7 Mar 16
haha that would be a fun thing to watch. I think I would be too shy to join in but I would love to watch it.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
7 Mar 16
@VivaLaDani - Lol, too shy to make a fool of yourself like I did? Anyway, it's a bit of fun. Thanks for digging this old post out, I appreciate it.
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@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
7 Mar 16
@jaboUK lol no. I don't mean it like that lol I just mean I don't really like drawing attention to myself in general. I really wish I could just get up and do fun things like that though so if anything, I envy you for just doing it and having fun. I like to have fun but I hold back sometimes when I am out of my comfort zone.
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