Waking up to the smell of pancakes can put virtually anyone in a good mood. From strawberry to chocolate chip to plain, there is a pancake out there for everyone. Many people miss out on National Pancake Day, which started as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. The phrase “shrove” is an old English word that means to confess one’s sins, which is logical considering Shrove Tuesday is the day before the Christian holiday Lent begins.

“I gave up soda and sweet tea for Lent, and so far I haven’t broken it, but we’ll have to see,” Hailey Schultz, freshman, said. 

Lent is a time of fasting and prayer until Easter for people of Christian faith. In an attempt to use up ingredients that were not supposed to be eaten during Lent (butter, milk, eggs, sugar, etc), pancakes were an easy way out. People use up the food they cannot eat while simultaneously indulging in a delicious treat.

National Pancake Day became more popular as the years passed, and traditions stand strong. Certain parts of England hold pancake-flipping races, where women flip pancakes while running down the street. The goal is usually to make it about 450 yards, and flip the pancake a pre-determined number of times before reaching the finish line. When contestants finish, the pancake must be intact.  Here in the United States, Liberal, Kansas, is known for its annual pancake celebrations, as well.

“A man who doesn’t love pancakes doesn’t love life. I could eat twenty of them for breakfast,” Bryce Jeffrey, freshman, said.

Even if people are not religious, Pancake Day is a great excuse to serve up some carbs and enjoy a nice meal. To get into the spirit of National Pancake Day, IHOP is serving a stack of buttermilk pancakes for free on March 7th. All they ask in return is a donation to their charitable partners for children battling critical illness. Whether everyone goes out or stays in, go ahead and celebrate National Pancake Day, even if no one knew it existed until this article!