February 21 marks National Pancake Day, and the holiday inspired thousands to share their takes on a breakfast favorite. The holiday started as early as approximately 1100 AD in the U.K., and was originally known as Shrove Day. In Anglicanism and several other branches of protestant Christianity, the holiday is meant to be the final feast ahead of Lent, a period in which many Christians fast and give up sweets.
U.K. recipes typically favor a thinner pancake cooked with lemon juice, while the American pancake is made with a thicker batter and usually filled with chocolate chips or any fruit of choice. Aside from the pancake cooking alone, there are many other traditions associated with Shrove Tuesday in the U.K. Some towns even have a pancake race, in which participants must keep a hot pancake in a frying pan and flip it three times before reaching the finish line first.
What will you be having on your pancakes today?
Rather than eating them @BerkhamstedBoys held their inaugural pancake race around the Grass Quad.
Adders were the victorious winners of the final race & were presented with the trophy, a gold frying pan!#ShroveTuesday #TeamBerko pic.twitter.com/HVuHjV5NbD
— Berkhamsted Schools (@berkhamstedsch) February 21, 2023
The holiday always falls 47 days ahead of Easter. The feast comes ahead of Ash Wednesday, in which many different sects of Christianity choose their favorite luxury or vice to give up during the Lenten season. In France and present day New Orleans, Louisiana, the feast is referred to as Mardi Gras, which translates to Fat Tuesday. Today, thousands colorfully parade down New Orleans’ Bourbon Street to commemorate the historic holiday.
Happy Mardi Gras! Throwback to when our front yard was the Where's Waldo of Fat Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/ucdSbirLIP
— Karen DaltonBeninato (@kbeninato) February 21, 2023
Mardi Gras has plenty of its own unique feast delicacies, including king cake.
???????? Happy Mardi Gras! Celebrate the beginning of festival season by ordering a king cake from #Firehook. They have a limited supply, so make sure you stop by their Dupont Circle store today. pic.twitter.com/FCmLtDpZEx
— Dupont Circle (@DupontCircleBID) February 21, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Pancakes have been known by multiple names over the years. They were initially recorded circa 600 B.C.E. in ancient Greece, when the delicacy was first described by a poet. Centuries later, the pastry was nicknamed the flapjack, and was gradually renamed the pancake. Pancakes became an American breakfast favorite in the 1870s.
Today, regardless of religious affiliation or nationality, thousands are sharing their takes on the centuries old favorite. From creations for people with dietary restrictions to pancake art, Twitter is brimming with new recipes to try.
Pancake day ???? pic.twitter.com/BlVF9AZpRU
— PrettyLittleThing (@OfficialPLT) February 21, 2023
happy pancake day :p
brown butter cinnamon blueberry pancakes with blueberry lavender skyr pic.twitter.com/i89xL7lBPb
— jer (@44jer) February 21, 2023
You NEED these vegan pancakes in your life today ????#PancakeDaypic.twitter.com/pg6XIMKIQu
— PETA UK (@PETAUK) February 21, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Some shared unique Pancake Day, Shrove Day, and Mardi Gras traditions. Princess Kate Middleton visited a nursing home in Oxford, U.K. today and flipped some pancakes with the residents.
“This is how not to do it” Princess of Wales pancake making at Oxford House Nursing Home, Slough @KensingtonRoyal #PancakeDay pic.twitter.com/kgLqMDkzK9
— Laura Bundock (@laurabundock) February 21, 2023
Happy pancake day. Tomorrow is the start of the fast for 40 days ????✝️
Lemon & butter & Sugar is an English tradition. Keep traditions alive. ???????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/WIEzfrT1QW— ???????? National Housing Party U.K. ???????????????????????????? (@NHPUKOfficial) February 21, 2023
Some brands and organizations shared creative videos of pancake sharing.
We hope you all have a flipping brilliant Pancake Day. pic.twitter.com/t2UephPyjC
— National Trust (@nationaltrust) February 21, 2023
Cycling is flippin' fantastic. ????
Become a Cycling UK member this #PancakeDay and you'll receive stacks of bike benefits, including insurance, retail discounts and expert advice: https://t.co/o06vr381ds pic.twitter.com/58Rhpvyyqi
— Cycling UK (@WeAreCyclingUK) February 21, 2023
TikTok got creative with intricate pancake art.
@heathercoxzzz Kids Breakfast #nationalpancakeday #mardigras #mardigrasbreakfast #breakfast #breakfastideas #kidsbreakfast #kidsbreakfastideas #pancakes #pancake
♬ New Orleans style Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street(1379702) – ricca
@jlang_creations Replying to @lilianvap21 #fyp #pancakeart #foodart #spiderman #marvel #marvelcomics #superhero #foodtok #foodtiktok #celebrity
Some share their favorite movie and television scenes featuring pancakes today. The fluffy breakfast treat has been featured in many a humorous and wholesome moment in entertainment.
Pancake day > Valentine’s Day https://t.co/K1eBH66syQ
— tasha louise | ???????????????????????? ???? (@eds_afterglow) February 14, 2023
@bloody_bastard_
Even some pets got involved in the holiday today.
@good.boy.ollie The apprentice is fired!
Happy #PancakeDay to all who celebrate it! #ShroveTuesday ???? #MardiGras pic.twitter.com/zt1FHJM58r
— Lorelei King❤ (@LoreleiKing) February 21, 2023
Local news stations across the U.S. and the U.K. celebrated with pancakes on air today in honor of the many traditions affiliated with the holiday.
Sweet or … gravy ?? Which is your favourite pancake topping? @BBCLookNorth #PancakeDay pic.twitter.com/14wJjCW7Wc
— Amy Garcia (@AmyGarciauk) February 21, 2023
Stay tuned on social media today for new recipe inspirations, or for new historical facts about the breakfast and brunch staple.
