Special Features - Olney Celebrates Pancake Day

Olney Celebrates Pancake Day
(22/02/07)

The 2005 Pancake Day race through the streets of Olney.

The town of Olney celebrates Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, with a traditional pancake race, which dates back to 1445.

Female-only race

The race is run over 415 yards between the Market Place and Olney Parish Church at 11:55am every Shrove Tuesday.

This year's race was won by Jane Hughes in 73.5 seconds. Only women can enter - they must have lived in Olney for at least three months and be at least 18-years-old in order to enter.

Competitors must wear a traditional housewife's costume, including a skirt, apron and head covering and must carry a frying pan containing a pancake. The winner, on crossing the line, must toss her pancake and she is then greeted by the verger with the traditional kiss of peace. The race is immediately followed by a Shriving service in the Parish Church where the official prizes are presented.

A medieval tradition

Local legend says that the race originated in the 15th century when a harassed wife, upon hearing the church bell, dashed off to the church still clutching her frying pan. The race continued through the centuries and, although it may have not been held every year, the tradition was passed on to ensure it was never forgotten.

Tradition revived after World War II

The event was suspended during World War II but revived in 1948 when the local vicar found photos taken in the 1920s. The first modern race was run with 13 women taking part and now traffic is stopped in the town as the race begins.

Link with Kansas

The race became an international event in 1950. After seeing press photographs of the Olney event, the town of Liberal in Kansas, USA decided to start their own custom and challenge the Buckinghamshire town to an international race. Olney readily accepted and, in a spirit of international goodwill and friendship, the two towns now compete annually and prizes are exchanged.

Representatives from America have been present for the race in Olney and likewise in the US where the British Consul-General in St. Louis and the Governor of Kansas have turned out for the Liberal event.

Other Pancake Day races

Other English towns hold Pancake Day races including Hitchin, also in Buckinghamshire. The pancake festival includes a variety of stalls selling pancakes and mulled wine and a race for men and women.

In St Albans, teams from all over the city compete to win a frying pan engraved with that year's winners.

Shrove Tuesday

Pancakes are traditionally eaten on Shove Tuesday - which falls 47 days before Easter Sunday - as it is commonly the day to use up all fats and sugars in the house before the start of Lent. Ash Wednesday, so called because worshippers at special services are marked with ashes as a symbol of death and sorrow for sin, follows Shrove Tuesday and is the first day of Lent.

Lent is a 40 day fast in preparation for the Christian Holy Week at Easter. Traditionally, no dairy products or meat are eaten during the whole period and no food is eaten at all before 3pm. Alcohol is absolutely forbidden for the duration of Lent.

The rules are much more relaxed in modern times and Lent today normally includes giving up a luxury such as chocolate or alcohol.

Related links

Olney Town Council