what is "Pancake day"?

"In the UK, we have a tradition of making and eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, which falls between 2 February and 9 March, depending on the date for Easter. Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday to use its correct title, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent - the 40 days leading up to Easter - was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday Christians went to confession and were 'shriven' (absolved from their sins). Pancake Day became a great way to use the foods that were given up for Lent – milk, butter, and eggs. The humble pancake has featured in recipe books as far back as 1439."

The popular name for Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day marks the start of the build-up to Easter. It is followed by Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent - a Christian fast - so a custom has arisen of making pancakes to use up foods traditionally given up for Lent.

Pancake Day 2018 falls on Tuesday 13 February in 2018.

in:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/pancake-day