Do The French Eat Pancakes on Pancake Day like the rest of the world?
No, they don’t eat pancakes as their main food on Pancake Day (or as it’s also called Shrove Tuesday).
Shrove Tuesday is celebrated around the world with eating pancakes but in France, fatty foods are eaten and the day is known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. Pancakes or crepês are however part of France’s celebrations of la Chandleleur or Candlemas which is held on 2 February each year. It can be confusing with celebrations known by different names and seemingly associated with the same foods, so keep reading.
Related Posts – find out more about Mardi Gras on the French Riviera in What’s On In February In France
Pancake Day, aka Shrove Tuesday, aka Fat Tuesday (in France), aka Mardi Gras (in France) marks the start of the build-up to Easter. The date of this celebration moves with the calendar according to Easter and it’s followed by Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. In 2019 Pancake Day will be celebrated on 5 March and to help you make the perfect pancake we have a simple but delicious recipe below for you.
Where Does The Name Shrove Tuesday Come From?
So where does the name Shrove Tuesday come from? Well, it comes from ‘shrive’ meaning absolution for sins by doing penance. Traditionally, Christians would try to be ‘shriven’ before Lent. They would go to confession with the priest, where they admitted their sins and asked for absolution.
To call everyone to confession a bell called the ‘pancake bell’ would be rung.
Where Does The Names Fat Tuesday Come From?
Now lets see where the name ‘Fat Tuesday’ comes from. This relates to using up your fatty foods before Lent which would otherwise perish before you could eat them again or, maybe more importantly, would tempt you every time you opened your cupboard!
So you can see the progression to Pancake Day and the idea of using up rich foods like eggs, milk and sugar to make pancakes before the 40 days of fasting.
The actual tradition of mixing up the main ingredients for pancakes is said by some to be from a pagan ritual, while others say it is a Christian tradition with each ingredient representing one of the four pillars of the faith. Eggs for creation, flour as the sustenance or the staff of life, salt for wholesomeness and milk for purity.
Simple and Delicious Pancake Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup self raising flour
1/2 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
Method
Put the flour, sugar and egg in a bowl.
Beat ingredients until combined and then add milk gradually to make a smooth batter.
Pour batter into a jug and cover with plastic wrap then let it stand for 1 hour.
Pour small amounts into a hot greased pan and cook until small bubbles begin to burst on the surface.
Flip and cook, lightly browning the other side.
Now just add your topping of sliced banana, cream, jam, Nutella, honey, maple syrup or freshly squeezed lemon juice and enjoy your pancakes on Pancake Day whether you’re in France or anywhere else in the world. Bon appétit
Other French recipes you might like are Tarte au Citron, Mussels in White Wine and Garlic and Cherry Clafoutis
