*Ø* Blogmanac February 24 | Mmmmmmmm ..... Oops!
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
Tomorrow (Ash Wednesday is February 25 in 2004) begins the 6-week period of fasting in the Christian world, known as Lent, the forty days' fast preceding Easter. Today is known to the French as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), as it is the day that all foods may be eaten. Pancakes were popular as families ate the last of the eggs and butter that they were allowed before Lent.
The name 'Shrove' comes from the archaic English word 'to shrive', which means to confess or hear confessions of sin, a practice that was customary in the church on this day.
People traditionally ate bacon, meat and black puddings as well as pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. There was dice and card playing, mumming and revelry. Wagons were drawn by horses today, all decorated with hundreds of bells. Today was apprentices' holiday in old England. They also presented their petitions to parliament on this day.
The folklorist Brand says Pancake Day came from the pagan Fornacalia, in commemoration of making bread, before ovens were invented, by the goddess Fornax. The medieval Roman writer, Polydore Virgil, explains how the feasts of Bacchus were celebrated in Rome at the same time of year ...
Pictured: Your almanackist about to enjoy a pancake, Shrove Tuesday, 2004. Of course, he drained the maple syrup all over his desk.
This is just a snippet of today's stories. Read all about today in folklore, historical oddities, inspiration and alternatives at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days, every day. Click today's date when you're there.
PS George Harrison's birthday: was it February 24 or 25? George himself changed it when he was in his 40s, but did he get it right? Discussed today and tomorrow at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days.
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
Tomorrow (Ash Wednesday is February 25 in 2004) begins the 6-week period of fasting in the Christian world, known as Lent, the forty days' fast preceding Easter. Today is known to the French as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), as it is the day that all foods may be eaten. Pancakes were popular as families ate the last of the eggs and butter that they were allowed before Lent.
The name 'Shrove' comes from the archaic English word 'to shrive', which means to confess or hear confessions of sin, a practice that was customary in the church on this day.
People traditionally ate bacon, meat and black puddings as well as pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. There was dice and card playing, mumming and revelry. Wagons were drawn by horses today, all decorated with hundreds of bells. Today was apprentices' holiday in old England. They also presented their petitions to parliament on this day.
The folklorist Brand says Pancake Day came from the pagan Fornacalia, in commemoration of making bread, before ovens were invented, by the goddess Fornax. The medieval Roman writer, Polydore Virgil, explains how the feasts of Bacchus were celebrated in Rome at the same time of year ...
Pictured: Your almanackist about to enjoy a pancake, Shrove Tuesday, 2004. Of course, he drained the maple syrup all over his desk.
This is just a snippet of today's stories. Read all about today in folklore, historical oddities, inspiration and alternatives at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days, every day. Click today's date when you're there.
PS George Harrison's birthday: was it February 24 or 25? George himself changed it when he was in his 40s, but did he get it right? Discussed today and tomorrow at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days.
Pip Wilson posted item above at 11:46 AM | Permalink
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