Everything you need to know about Pancake Tuesday or Mardi Gras

20 February 2012

Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, is the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of the Christian fasting period, Lent.

The word shrove is the past tense of the word shrive which means seeking forgiveness for sins. During the week before Lent, Christians are traditionally expected to attend confession in preparation. However, this time is also used for celebration, one final ‘letting-go’ before the more reserved period of Lent.

Traditionally, pancakes are cooked and eaten on Shrove Tuesday, as they contain sugar, fat and eggs, ingredients which were typically restricted during the Lent fast.

After the Protestant Reformation in Britain in the 16th Century, the tradition also continued in European Catholic states, where Carnivals are still held to celebrate the period before Lent, finishing with Mardi Gras, meaning Fat Tuesday.

Now in its second year and in a joint venture with Leeds University, our University is helping host the Mardi Gras Languages Festival to celebrate Mardi Gras. As part of the Speak to the Future campaign and the Routes into Languages project, Year 12 pupils from local secondary schools will have the opportunity to find out more about the benefits of language learning, to explore career options and to meet current students from the two Universities. Taster sessions in minority languages such as Chinese, Japanese and Arabic will be offered and pupils will have the opportunity to practise their skills in their chosen 'A' level language. This will be held on 21 February at Leeds University; contact Kathy Murdie.

Why not have a go at making pancakes this year?
Here is a pancake recipe to try:
110g plain flour, pinch of salt, 2 eggs, 200ml milk and 75ml water, 50g butter.
Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it. Whisk the eggs with the flour. Add the milk and water mixture gradually, a little at a time. Once all the liquid is added, keep whisking until all the flour is mixed in and the batter is smooth. Melt the butter in a pan, mix a little of the pancake batter in and then pour this into a small bowl. Each time you are ready to make another pancake, wipe some of the butter mixture around the pan to grease using some kitchen roll. Once you are ready to cook, get the pan very hot, then, with the pan on a medium heat, pour in a small amount of batter (make a test pancake first to check you are using the right amount), and quickly tip the pan to spread the batter all over the base. After around 30 seconds flip the pancake over using a spatula and cook on the other side for a few seconds. They should be slightly golden on each side. Serve with sugar and lemon juice.

OR, you could visit the staff food courts and let them take care of Pancake Tuesday for you!

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