Shrove Tuesday is a Christian observance, where people prepare for Lent by eating pancakes and sweets and partaking in celebrations. The annual tradition of Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day fell on March the 1st this year. Shrove Tuesday is followed by Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a day when Christians start a period of sacrifice that represents the sacrifice made by Jesus who fasted for 40 days in the desert.

I have always considered it strange that there are many people who eat pancakes just once a year; they are simple and inexpensive to make yet seem to be saved as an annual treat. No sooner have the Christmas gifts and treats been taken down, shops begin to display bottles of lemon juice and chocolate spread prominently at the end of the aisles, they use the occasion to promote non-stick frying pans and spatulas, it’s quite an event.

We celebrated Shrove Tuesday here at Marham House with a pancake extravaganza. We had what turned out to be a very interesting discussion about pancakes, we learned a lot. Apparently, they were introduced to us by the Romans and have been enjoyed throughout history with different generations enjoying various different toppings.

We learned a lot and an hour of talking about lemon and sugar, chocolate spread, honey and Rosewater made us very hungry. We were extremely excited to sit to down for our pancake feast.

Pancakes are so simple, just eggs, flour and milk and a non-stick pan but the result is delicious, we weren’t disappointed, we were offered every topping imaginable and some of us ate more than we perhaps should have.

Now we need to decide what we will be giving up for Lent, I haven’t decided yet, but one thing is for sure, it won’t be pancakes.