Does Pancake Day still stack up as a sweet treat worth celebrating?

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February always means two things: Valentine’s Day and Pancake Day. With the likes of Christmas and Halloween shifting into an ever increasingly commercialised festivity, I’d be inclined to say Pancake Day hasn’t fallen quite so far into neoliberal nonsense. Traditionally, Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is a Christian holiday before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday and it often involves fasting. The name Strove stems from the word shrive, meaning absolution following confession, which is why this is often a period for self-reflection and confessing sins.

Whilst its modern-day relevance might have slipped away from the religious story, its values still ring true. At a time when the world is dotted with wars and fears of AI advancements, moments of stillness and meditation are key.

I personally think Pancake Day is a nice opportunity during everyone’s busy schedules to stop for a moment, come together, and cook some good food. It is something everyone can take part in; children often find joy in helping out, university students will take any excuse to avoid coursework or revision, and everyone has fun in picking out toppings… although I would argue there is a right and wrong way to style your pancake…

“At a time when the world is dotted with wars and fears of AI advancements, moments of stillness and meditation are key.”

If you like the thick, American style pancakes, then an assortment of fruit and some yoghurt is the way to go. Now, a controversial one here – bacon and maple syrup. Some proclaim this is the best thing since sliced bread, but I am indifferent; as I try to stick to a plant-based diet, I have no opinion on the matter! For thin crepes, you can’t go wrong with lemon and sugar – it’s such a classic! If you really want to go all out, try Nutella crepes with fresh strawberries and a scope of vanilla ice cream; careful though – it is addictive! I was obsessed with this when I found a little pancake shop on a pier in California. My mum’s usual was a savoury pancake, stuffed with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and spinach. Personally, I think anything with meat, cheese, or condiments like sour cream need to stay away from pancakes!

Pancake Day remains a wholesome tradition. I think this is because you can really make it whatever you want without feeling pressured. It can be a way to bring people together and have a good time. The ingredients are simple to combine, easy to alter to any diet, and are cheap to buy. You can make simple recipes and toppings or go all out and get creative. Eating pancakes is fun to do at home, but it is also great to experiment different toppings at restaurants too. Whilst many might complain about binge eating or having pancakes for days on end, there are worse things to be concerned about than the amount of pancake batter in your fridge.