© 2016 olneypancakerace.org
Brilio.net/en - Last week, as part of the Shrove Tuesday celebration, people across UK participated in the annual pancake run across country.
And as the name implies, this race involves running with your pancake still frying on the pan! The race is held on the Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday, a day before Ash Wednesday, which mark the last day before Christian begin fasting for forty days until Easter.
The tradition is said to have originated in 1445, when a housewife from Olney Buckinghamshire, was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake, tossing it to prevent it from burning.
Until today, this tradition remains intact with runners need to race through the streets tossing pancakes into the air and catching them in the pan while running, as part of the race rule.
The most famous pancake race is of course being held in its place of origin, in Olney in Buckinghamshire. Running since 1445, the contestants who mostly women, carry a frying pan and race over a 415-yard course to the finishing line. The rules are strict: contestants have to toss their pancake at both the start and the finish, as well as wear an apron and a scarf. Traditionally, when men want to participate, they must dress up as a housewife (usually an apron and a bandanna). While another one called, The Great Spitalfields Race in London invites runner to dress in costume while flipping pancakes to raise money for Londons Air Ambulance.
(brl/tis)
