Pancakes. How do you like yours?

bymaxmillion18

765 followers

3 years ago

What is Pancake Day?

Pancake Day has been celebrated by Britons for centuries. Known also as Shrove Tuesday, the day is calculated based on when Easter falls. One thing that doesn’t change, is that it is always the day preceding Ash Wednesday (which is the first day of Lent in the Christian faith). The race was due to be held on Tuesday 16th February 2021, but due to worldwide pandemic, this has been cancelled.

Where did it start?

It is said that the Pancake Race originated in the village of Olney which is just a few short miles from where I live in the charming countryside of Buckinghamshire, England. Local village residents pronounce the name of the village with a silent letter ‘l’ (so it sounds like “oh-knee” or Oney) which can be very confusing and I’m not clear on the reason for that. They say it’s simply because the pronunciation and spelling has changed over the years.

The Pancake Race tradition started around 1445 and I believe that most of the original participants are now retired but continue living in the town. Legend has it that a resident housewife was making pancakes when the church bells announced the following service, so she was running down the road with her pan and pancake mix.

Is it celebrated anywhere else?

Then apparently in 1950, the town of Liberal, Kansas in the United States, had decided to adopt the same tradition of the Olney Pancake Race, having read about it somewhere. They subsequently challenged Olney residents to an annual race and the towns of Liberal and Olney have competed each year ever since and I think it is now celebrated as the International Pancake Day.

Olney is a charming olde worlde market town with several historic churches and situated near the river Great Ouse. In English, we pronounce that as “Great Ooze”, but I understand some parts of the world pronounce it as Great “Ouse” like in house but with a silent “h”.

The lovely market square looks delightful in spring with the colourful array of flowers and hanging baskets festooned everywhere. Every resident takes great pride in the appearance of their beautiful town and community.

How do you like your Pancakes?

1. A spread of butter? or
2. a dollop of cream? or
3. a spoon of Greek Yoghurt? (yogurt) or
4. a spoon of jam (known as jelly in some countries)? or
5. Liberal lashings of Golden Syrup or Maple Syrup? or
6. Loaded with Blueberries, bananas and raspberries? or
7. Several scoops of your favourite ice-cream? or
8. Smothered in Irish Baileys Cream or Tia Maria Coffee liqueur (for the adults) or
9. Everything combined
10. Plain

Share your views in the comments below.

And apart from Pancakes? Why else is Olney well-known?

Olney is home to the Cowper & Newton Museum. William Cowper was an English poet and author and Olney resident from 1767. Cowper also wrote a number of hymns but the one written together with Rev. John Newton is arguably the most well-known and still remains popular throughout the world, to this day.

That is the hymn “Amazing Grace”.

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood, His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I've been set free (been set free)
My God, my Savior has ransomed me (ransomed me)
And like a flood (like a flood) His mercy rains (mercy rains)
Unending love, oh, Amazing grace

Thank you for reading and have a Blessed day where ever you are

Michael