The day of the pancake

Pancakes, how strange that would sound, — not only Russian national dish. In different variations they bake throughout Europe and North America. Lush, ruddy, hot pancakes a-kind can be a symbol of hearth and home. It is not surprising that different people have national holidays devoted to pancakes. We have, of course, Carnival. But in the English town of Olney to celebrate the special Day of a pancake, and you have it on 12 Feb.





Like us, the English pancake Day is also associated with the beginning of lent. It is celebrated in Olney for a very long time – almost 600 years and is associated with a funny story that allegedly happened in this city in 1445. So one aniska housewife in the middle of the XV century on one fine February day was frying pancakes at home. Inspired by the process, she forgot about the time when I had to go to Church. Only the sound of the bell ringing she ran out of the house than was in a mobcap, apron and... directly with a frying pan.





Half-baked pancake on a hot skillet could burn on, so while running, the woman repeatedly threw him. Since then, the residents of Olney annually repeat this race, is decorated with a big way, celebrating and having fun. Participate in this even children.





So, the pancake race is that thirty women are running from the market square to the city of Olney Church on time, holding a frying pan and tossing pancakes on it. The most agile and quick hostess becomes the winner of the competition. However, the audience too does not remain for nothing – they are allowed to eat those pancakes that participants of the race, not dropped on the way.





By the way, ladies do not run in tracksuits, long skirts, scarves and aprons – all in the fifteenth century! The record in this kind of sport is 1.06 minutes. Pancake day is celebrated not only in Olney – a fun tradition like the rest of the British, and several cities adopted it.





And in the American Liberal (Kansas) introduced the "pancake race", envying the British. It happened in 1950. Casacci compete with each other, between cities and even between countries as residents of a Liberal agreed with anicama, and every year on the day of the damn city exchange delegates.

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