A tradition that goes back 74 years was held in Liberal, Kansas yesterday, February 21st, on National Pancake Day, traditionally held on Shrove Tuesday. The annual competition of flapjack flipping. It was held over two continents, with women from Kansas taking on the women from Olney, England. Contestants don an apron and headscarf, then race down a 415-yard course, skillet in hand, tossing a pancake at the start and finish. Olney took the championship this year as Liberal’s winner, Isabella Sullenger clocked 1:13-seconds, eight seconds slower than Olney’s winner. Liberal won the race last year.
The race in Olney reportedly dates back to 1445. According to legend, a woman was making a pancake when she heard the church bells ring, and dashed to church still wearing her apron and holding her frying pan so she wouldn’t be late to the service. Shrove Tuesday has always been of religious significance to the townsfolk of Olney. It is the day before Lent, which is the start of the traditional fast. Traditionally, people were to give up dairy products for lent, meaning the products were put into a pancake mix. For the Olney women, it was also important to attend the Shriving Service before the start of Lent, where they could confess their sins ahead of Ash Wednesday.
There’s your history lesson for the day!
