In the UK, we consume thousands of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. This year, I found myself wondering why this food on this day, and what are its origins?Shrove comes from the Roman Catholic practice - to 'shrive' is to confess your sins and be absolved or 'shriven' be a priest. Bells would ring to call the masses to church, known as the shriving bells, a custom which few still follow today. The next day is the start of Lent, a time of praying and fasting when certain foods would not be consumed. 'Collop Monday' would be the last day to eat thinly slice meats such as bacon, followed by Shrove Tuesday to consume butter, eggs and fats. In French, Mardi Gras translates as Fat Tuesday. Which brings us to pancakesThe ingredients for pancakes are a perfect way to use any left over foods which would spoil during Lent. Some historians believe these could have been used for their symbolic references as well:Eggs represent creation, milk for purity, salt for wholesomeness and flour for sustenance.Flipping or tossing pancakes has become an art form, and has been recorded for hundreds of years:“And every man and maide doe take their turne, And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne.” (Pasquil’s Palin, 1619).Sadly, this maide has not been able to master this skill however, it did become a tradition to hold a Pancake Race. Contestants must run in their aprons with they frying pan while tossing their pancake, which originated in Olney in Buckinghamshire. No one knows exactly how the race began. One version of events is that a housewife heard the shriving bells and ran out to church with the frying pan still in hand, while another says that the pancakes were used to bribe the bellringers.So, whatever your tradition is on Shrove Tuesday, eat well and have a flipping good time.
Walking into Wells Cathedral, it's impossible to miss the majesty of the light steaming through the upper windows onto the cross. Thankfully the Met Office hadn't correctly forecast that days weather and instead, we were provided with glorious sunshine. We were there for one very importance reason, to watch and support a beloved member of our congregation, Jo being Confirmed. With a total number of around 80 candidates, the Cathedral was full with supporters and members of the Anglican community including the three bishops required to perform the task.Confirmation is a very personal yet deeply important part of the Christian journey requiring verbal commitments to be made. Watching Jo return to her seat, the impact of this moment was evident to see and is an experience which will remain with her long after the ceremony. To witness another undertaking this step is humbling and uplifting, and really brings home that we are all one in Christ.Jo had an added and unexpected part to play as well in reading the prayers. Luckily, she does this regularly and naturally stepped into the pulpit with ease. After the event, we gathered out the front of the Cathedral where all the candidates came together with Bishop Michael for an amazing group photo. While some found their loved one or group, others reconnected with those they hadn't seen in a while. On a special day such as that, the love we have for one another as fellow Christians is plain to see. For Jo, knowing we were witnessing her confirmation was immensely touching, and is eager to see where she will be called next in her own journey.For anyone interest in Baptism or Confirmation, speak to your local church or visit the Church of England website.
