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Taylor Aucoin, British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow in History, The University of Edinburgh

Pancakes and football: a brief history of Shrove Tuesday in the UK

Football United Kingdom Scotland Lent London
"Medieval football" is still played annually on Shrove Tuesday in some parts of the UK. Shutterstock/Alamy

Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday is once again upon us. Celebrated in many countries around the world, for Christians, Shrove Tuesday marks the last day, or the feast day before Lent - the 40 days leading up to Easter.

This is traditionally a time of abstinence associated with clearing your cupboards of things like eggs, sugar and fats. Pancakes are eaten on this day to use up these foods before the fasting season of Lent begins.

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