The strange and amazing history of pancake celebrations
International House of Pancakes has served free flapjacks on Pancake Day for a decade.
Since beginning its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP restaurants have raised almost $16 million to support charities in the communities in which they operate. This year on Tuesday, diners were treated to free stacks -- but asked to make charitable donations.
Here's a tall stack of facts about this delicious annual tradition.
It's cooked up millions
According to the restaurant chain, IHOP restaurants have raised almost $16 million to support local charities since the first Pancake Day in 2006. But …
It's not just an IHOP thing
Pancake Day coincides with hundreds, if not thousands, of flapjack-oriented celebrations held worldwide this time of year.
Christian traditions
Christians in many countries celebrate their own “Pancake Week,” centered around the days leading up to Easter.
A tasty Tuesday
For those celebrants, the main day to eat pancakes is Shrove Tuesday, the Tuesday in seventh week before Easter. This year, Shrove Tuesday will fall on February 17.
Pagan origins
Shrove Tuesday, in turn, stems from earlier traditions first held by the Slavs, who believed that spring came about when the god Jarilo defeated evil spirits of cold and darkness.
Symbolic meaning
For those Slavs, the pancakes symbolized the warm sun. In eating pancakes during a sacred week between seasons, they believed they were consuming the heat and power of the sun, and helping Jarilo defeat winter.
One big griddle?
On the final day of this sacred week, pancakes were offered to the pagan gods in a bonfire, a tradition echoed in modern Shrovetide fires.
Get 'em while you can
In parts of Northern and Western Europe, Christians feast on pancakes in a Carnival-like celebration that precedes Lent.
Clear the pantry
The idea: Get rid of all the fat and sugar in the house, in preparation for the sacrifices of Lent.
London version
London has a special Shrove Tuesday tradition: the Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race. Teams from both houses of Parliament race each other while … you guessed it.
Kate Middelton
Similar Shrove Tuesday races and flipping demonstrations are held throughout Britain. Even royals such as Kate Middleton have gotten in on the action.
Christmas for tummies
Shrove Tuesdays and other pancake-centered holidays are especially exciting for children, who often participate in their own flapjack races in Britain.
Pancakes for all
Pancake days in Eastern Europe are marked by feasts for everyone, especially the poor. The celebration week is called Maslenitsa.
Close enough
U.S. cities with large Polish communities celebrate a “Paczki Day.” Paczkis are closer to donuts, but the tradition is roughly the same, and is generally held around Shrove Tuesday.
Everybody loves 'em
Even communities without Christian ties have established Pancake Day-like holidays. Muslims manage to enjoy a monthful of pancakes; Ramadan requires fasting during the day, but nights are often filled with Qatayef, a traditional pancake.
French treats
France’s version of Pancake Day? How about Candlemas, held on Feb. 2? French traditionally believe that if you can catch a crêpe with a frying pan after tossing it in the air with your right hand and holding a gold coin in your left hand, you’ll get rich within a year.
Pancake neutrality
Parts of Switzerland celebrate a Pancake Day called Güdisdienstag, a term that comes from from "Güdel", which means a fat, full stomach.