Editing Shrove Tuesday (section)

===Festivities===
[[File:Foot Ball, Kingston-upon-Thames, Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 24th, 1846.jpg|thumb|250px|Football match in the 1846 Shrove Tuesday in [[Kingston upon Thames]], England]]
In the [[United Kingdom]], as part of community celebration, many towns held traditional Shrove Tuesday "[[mob football]]" games, some dating as far back as the 17th century.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilks |first=Jon |title=Customs uncovered: Pancake Day and Shrove Tuesday |url=https://tradfolk.co/customs/pancake-day-shrove-tuesday/ |access-date=28 February 2022 |website=Tradfolk |date=28 February 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The practice mostly died out in the 19th century after the passing of the [[Highway Act 1835]] which banned playing football on public highways.<ref>{{cite book|title=The British Olympics: Britain's Olympic Heritage 1612–2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k0rCTsicBa8C&pg=PA31 |page=31|first=Martin|last=Polley|publisher=English Heritage|year=2013|isbn=978-1-848-02226-3}}</ref> A number of towns have maintained the tradition, including [[Alnwick]] in [[Northumberland]] ([[Scoring the Hales]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-31510154|title=Hundreds gather for Alnwick Shrovetide game|work=BBC News|date=17 February 2015|access-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212104853/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-31510154|archive-date=12 December 2016}}</ref> [[Ashbourne, Derbyshire|Ashbourne]] in [[Derbyshire]] (called the [[Royal Shrovetide Football]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-35523486|title=Ashbourne Shrovetide Football: Up'Ards take honours on first day|work=BBC News|date=9 February 2016|access-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219030728/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-35523486|archive-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> [[Atherstone]] in [[Warwickshire]] (called simply the [[Atherstone Ball Game]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/features/local-history/shrove-tuesday-in-atherstone.shtml|title=Dive for cover – it's the Atherstone Ball Game!|work=BBC News|access-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107223611/http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/features/local-history/shrove-tuesday-in-atherstone.shtml|archive-date=7 November 2015}}</ref> [[St Columb Major]] in [[Cornwall]] (called [[Hurling the Silver Ball]]), and [[Sedgefield]] in [[County Durham]] ([[Sedgefield Ball Game]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/articles/Shrove-Tuesday-pancake-day-events/|title=Shrove Tuesday events|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 March 2014|access-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228083609/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/articles/Shrove-Tuesday-pancake-day-events/|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>

Shrove Tuesday was once known as a "half-holiday" in Britain. It started at 11:00&nbsp;am with the ringing of a church bell.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cooksguide.co.uk |title=Cooks Guide |publisher=Cooks Guide |access-date=28 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404152959/http://www.cooksguide.co.uk/ |archive-date=4 April 2014 }}</ref> On Pancake Day, "pancake races" are held in villages and towns across the United Kingdom. The tradition is said to have originated in 1445 when a housewife from [[Olney, Buckinghamshire]], was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time until she heard the [[church bell]]s ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her [[frying pan]] and pancake, tossing it to prevent it from burning.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml |title=The origin of pancake racing |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305125927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml |archive-date=5 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Ideas/Album/Olney-Pancake-Race.htm|title=Olney Pancake Race|work=ukstudentlife.com|access-date=17 February 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729191727/http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Ideas/Album/Olney-Pancake-Race.htm|archive-date=29 July 2015}}</ref> The pancake race remains a relatively common festive tradition in the UK, especially [[England]]. Participants with frying pans race through the streets tossing pancakes into the air and catching them in the pan while running.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NWu6sLJn7-kC&q=%22shrove%20tuesday%22%20pancake%20race&pg=PA202|title=Encyclopedia of Traditional British Rural Sports|editor1=Tony Collins|editor2=John Martin|editor3=Wray Vamplew|page=202|publisher=Psychology Press|year=2005|isbn=978-0-415-35224-6|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228082845/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NWu6sLJn7-kC&lpg=PA202&dq=%22shrove%20tuesday%22%20pancake%20race&pg=PA202|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> The pancake race at Olney traditionally has women contestants who carry a frying pan and race over a {{Convert|415|yd|adj=on}} course to the finishing line. The rules are strict: contestants must toss the pancake at the start and the finish, and wear a scarf and apron.<ref name=bbc/>

Since 1950, the people of [[Liberal, Kansas]], and Olney have held the "International Pancake Day" race between the two towns. The two towns' competitors race along an agreed-upon measured course. The times of the two towns' competitors are compared to determine a winner overall. As of 2021, Liberal leads the competition with 38 wins to Olney's 31.<ref>{{cite web |title=Race Results {{!}} Olney Pancake Race |url=http://olneypancakerace.org/race-results/ |access-date=29 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226190625/http://olneypancakerace.org/race-results/ |archive-date=26 February 2021}}</ref> A similar race is held in [[North Somercotes]] in [[Lincolnshire]], England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/NorthSomercotes/index.asp?docId=53806|title=Welcome to Our Village|publisher=North Somercoates Parish Council|access-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228091010/http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/NorthSomercotes/index.asp?docId=53806|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>

In London, the Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race takes place every Shrove Tuesday, with teams from the British lower house (the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]), the upper house (the [[House of Lords]]), and the [[Fourth Estate]], contending for the title of Parliamentary Pancake Race Champions. The fun relay race is to raise awareness of Rehab, which provides a range of health and social care, training, education, and employment services in the UK for disabled people and others who are marginalised.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/09/mps-had-a-pancake-race-and-it-got-a-bit-rowdy-5671623/|title=MPs had a pancake race and it got a bit rowdy|newspaper=Metro|date=9 February 2016|access-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228075039/http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/09/mps-had-a-pancake-race-and-it-got-a-bit-rowdy-5671623/|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Olney Pancake Race 2009.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A [[pancake]] race in [[Olney, Buckinghamshire]], 2009]]
[[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]] celebrates by closing the foreshore to all traffic, closing schools early, and inviting all to skip. Traditionally, long ropes were used from the nearby harbour. The [[town crier]] rang the pancake bell, situated on the corner of Westborough (main street) and Huntriss Row. Since 1996 a replica "pancake bell" situated at Newborough and North Street has been rung to initiate the day's festivities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scarboroughuk.co.uk/2015/02/skipping-day-2015-shrove-tuesday.html|title=Skipping Day 2015|publisher=Scarborough.uk|access-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228084813/http://www.scarboroughuk.co.uk/2015/02/skipping-day-2015-shrove-tuesday.html|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>

Shrove Tuesday in England often involved a form of ritual begging, not dissimilar to [[wassailing]], in which children and adolescents would go door-to-door asking for tidbits from the frying pan. If the household was not forthcoming, they could expect levels of mischief, including the pelting of their house, knock and run, or gate stealing. This was known as Lent Crocking, Nicky-Nan Night, the Drawing of Cloam, Dappy-Door Night, or Pan Sharding.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilks |first=Jon |date= 28 February 2022|title=Customs uncovered: Pancake Day and Shrove Tuesday |url=https://tradfolk.co/customs/pancake-day-shrove-tuesday/ |access-date=28 February 2022 |website=Tradfolk |language=en-GB}}</ref> The children of the hamlet of [[Whitechapel, Lancashire]], keep alive a local variant of this tradition by visiting local households and asking "please a pancake", to be rewarded with oranges or sweets. It is thought this local tradition arose when farm workers visited the wealthier farm and manor owners to ask for pancakes or pancake fillings.<ref>(7 February 2008), [http://www.longridgenews.co.uk/features/Pancake-traditions-in-village.3756253.jp "Pancake traditions in village"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828140439/http://www.longridgenews.co.uk/features/Pancake-traditions-in-village.3756253.jp |date=28 August 2008 }}, ''Longridge News'', accessed 16 June 2010</ref>

In Ireland, the observance of fasting at Lent continued up to the 20th century, with Shrove Tuesday ({{Langx|ga|Máirt na hInide}},<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zxfNCQAAQBAJ&dq=M%C3%A1irt+na+hInide&pg=PT145|title=Impreasin na Gaeilge I – Z: (Fuaim na Gaeilge)|first=Seosamh Mac|last=Ionnrachtaigh|date=2 June 2015|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=9781496984203 |via=Google Books}}</ref> "Tuesday of the [[wikt:initium|initium]]")<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2RiAAAAMAAJ&q=M%C3%A1irt+na+hInide+initium|title=The Language of Kilkenny: Lexicon, Semantics, Structures|first=Séamas|last=Moylan|date=7 February 1996|publisher=Geography Publications|isbn=9780906602706 |via=Google Books}}</ref> marking the last day of the consumption of [[meat]] for the Lenten period. This was later relaxed, but with three days of fasting observed, Ash Wednesday, [[Holy Wednesday|Spy Wednesday]], and Good Friday. It was a tradition that the eldest unmarried daughter would toss the first pancake. If the pancake fell on the floor, she would remain unmarried for the next 12 months. As marriages were not traditionally permitted during the Lenten period, as decreed by the [[Council of Trent]], weddings on Shrove Tuesday were popular.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mahon|first=Bríd|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39935389|title=Land of milk and honey : the story of traditional Irish food and drink|date=1998|publisher=Mercier Press|isbn=1-85635-210-2|location=Dublin [Ireland]|pages=124–125|oclc=39935389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Hickey|first=Margaret|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1085196202|title=Ireland's green larder : the definitive history of Irish food and drink|date=2019|publisher=Unbound|isbn=978-1-78352-799-1|edition=[Paperback edition]|location=London|pages=301|oclc=1085196202}}</ref> In some parts of Ireland the [[holly]] from Christmas was saved and burnt in the fire for the pancakes. The night was also known as "Skellig Night" in [[County Cork|Counties Cork]] and [[County Kerry|Kerry]], during the celebrations, those who were unmarried were taunted with jeers and singing.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McGarry|first=Marion|date=15 February 2021|title=The weird historic traditions around Pancake Tuesday in Ireland|url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0224/1117313-pancake-shrove-tuesday-ireland-folklore-history/|access-date=16 February 2021|website=RTÉ Brainstorm}}</ref>

Thin pancakes called [[blini]] are traditional in Christian festivals in [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Russia]] also at this time of year ([[Maslenitsa]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advantour.com/russia/traditions/maslenitsa.htm|title=Maslenitsa|publisher=advantour.com|access-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205184223/http://www.advantour.com/russia/traditions/maslenitsa.htm|archive-date=5 February 2017}}</ref>