Pancake Day is the British name for Shrove Tuesday, the last day before the Christian season of Lent. Because it is tied to Easter, the date moves every year; the next one is on Tuesday, February 9, 2027, and the countdown above shows how long you have to stock up on eggs, flour and lemons.
How the date is worked out
Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday. It is the day before Ash Wednesday, which begins the 40 days of Lent (Sundays are not counted). Easter itself can fall anywhere between 22 March and 25 April, so Pancake Day can land on any Tuesday from 3 February to 9 March.
Why pancakes?
‘Shrove’ comes from the old word shrive, meaning to hear confession and grant absolution; in the Middle Ages people went to church to be shriven before Lent. Lent was traditionally a time of fasting when rich foods such as eggs, butter and fat were given up, so households used them up in one last treat, and pancakes were the perfect way to do it. Other countries mark the same day differently: it is Mardi Gras, or ‘Fat Tuesday’, in France and New Orleans, and the last day of carnival in many parts of Europe and Latin America.
The Olney Pancake Race
In the Buckinghamshire town of Olney, a pancake race is said to have been run since 1445. Legend has it that a housewife heard the church bell calling her to the shriving service and dashed out still holding her frying pan. Today, local women wearing an apron and headscarf race 415 yards to the church, tossing their pancake on the way. Since 1950 Olney has competed against Liberal in Kansas, which runs its own race over the same distance on the same day, with the times compared to decide the winner. Schools, charities and workplaces up and down the country now hold pancake races of their own.
Making classic British pancakes
British pancakes are thin, much closer to French crêpes than to thick American-style stacks. A simple, reliable method:
- Whisk 100g plain flour, 2 eggs, 300ml milk and a pinch of salt into a smooth batter.
- Leave the batter to rest for 15 to 30 minutes if you have time.
- Heat a little butter or oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat.
- Pour in just enough batter to coat the base thinly, tilting the pan as you go.
- Cook for about a minute, then flip, or toss if you’re feeling brave, and cook the other side.
- Serve with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of caster sugar, the classic topping.
What comes next
Pancake Day is followed by Ash Wednesday, then Mothering Sunday in the middle of Lent, and Easter at the end. Set a reminder with the add-to-calendar button so you don’t miss it, or create your own countdown for a pancake party with friends or colleagues.