Shrovetide celebrations in the UK.

As well as giving up “luxury” foods during lent, people were expected to give up fun pastimes. Therefore, Shrovetide (the four days preceding Lent) was a time for merriment.

Pancake races

In some parts of the UK, Pancake races form an important part of the Shrove Tuesday celebrations. This is an opportunity for large numbers of people, often in fancy dress, to race down streets tossing pancakes.

The Olney Pancake Race is the most famous of these.  In years gone by, the ‘pancake’ or shriving bell’ would have been rung to summon people to church on Shrove Tuesday. Legend has it that one cook in Olney was in such a rush to get to her place of worship that she ran to church still clutching her frying pan. Today, competitors dress up in a skirt, headscarf and apron and dash to the finish line complete with frying pan and pancake.

Skipping Day 

In Scarborough, Yorkshire, Shrove Tuesday is known as Skipping Day. People assemble on the promenade and long ropes are stretched across the road with ten or more people skipping on one rope.

Street Football

The Royal Shrovetide Football match is held every year in the town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire.  It is held over two days from Shrove Tuesday to Ash Wednesday. Many hundreds of people play in the match. The goals are nearly 5 km apart!

Lent celebrations across the world!

Maris gras

Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” and is celebrated in many places, most famously in New Orleans in the USA. People and parade floats fill the streets of the city.

Carnival of Venice 

This festival has been held each year on Shrove Tuesday for over 800 years. Festival goers wear colourful elaborate masks and costumes

Rio Carnival 

A carnival is held every year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before Lent begins. Many thousands of people parade through the streets in colourful costumes to the sound of loud samba music. The largest parade is held in a specially built ‘Sambadrome’ which can seat over 90,000 people.