Olney Pancake Race
Ahhh England, a small island with the quirkiest traditions. I wholeheartedly love this country’s weird and wonderful celebratory events. Let us journey to a small market town in Buckinghamshire…
Image sourced from Cowper & Newton Museum website.
The year is 1445 and a housewife, hearing the cries of church bells, dashes frantically out of the house, with her frying pan that contains a pancake, still in hand. This is according to lore of course, but so begins the annual pancake race in the town of Olney. It happens on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent and a whole day is focused on celebration. There is no historical recount of where the start line was, but the finish line is at, you guessed it, the church door! Honouring where it all began.
It is not all fun and games, there are rules to this legendary race.
Participants must be at least 18 years old and have lived in Olney for at least 3 months. It is a women's only race - so usually, they are housewives or younger ladies. In-keeping with tradition, the racers must run in a skirt, apron and headscarf. They must carry a frying pan of course. All participants toss their pancake at the start of the race, and the winner must toss her pancake once more, before crossing the finish line. She is then greeted with the kiss of peace (a kiss on the cheek by the verger). A service is held after the race, in the parish church, where the prizes are presented as well.
The word shrove is derived from the old English word shrive, which means to present oneself to the Priest for confession, penance and absolution. Shrove Tuesday is the customary day before the start of Lent for Christians. It was the day that Christians used up sweet or fatty foods in preparation for fasting before Easter, and pancakes are a quick and simple solution. You can see why the pancake race is a great symbol - rushing to church to confess your sins, just before the fasting and avoiding further temptation.
The 2023 race. You can see the costume participants must wear. Image by David Peach Photography.
Pancake Day has become an unofficial holiday for us. The roots of it may have come from Christianity, but it’s somewhat taken on a different form. It’s a time for people to come together and enjoy a treat. The beauty of this simple dish lies in variation. We can decide on buttermilk American style or traditional English thin versions of pancakes. Our toppings can be savoury (salmon and cream cheese) or very sweet (whipped cream, chocolate chips, nuts, fruit). We have been introduced to the Americans' love of mixing sweet and salty, so you’ll find restaurants that offer maple syrup and bacon as a pancake topping. There’s something for everyone with this small indulgent meal.
You can add any toppings you like to your pancake stack.
The Olney pancake race has evolved into a world famous event now. Over 70 years ago, it piqued the interest of city officials in Liberal, Kansas. Since 1950, the two places have competed with each other in their own transatlantic race. Each place records their times and compares them over video call. It’s a friendly rivalry and although the event is globally known, there is something quintessentially English about it. Or rather, quintessentially Olney. No other place in England does it to this scale. The town of Olney makes a day of it, shutting roads, bringing communities together. Even young girls race and compete, so schools are probably partially closed, one can imagine.
It is such a unique way to celebrate for a town. For 579 years, this race has occurred. The rules have barely changed. Its legacy is rooted in both religion and state. It is the very fact that the Olney Pancake Race is a combination of tradition and farce that make it classically British. We Brits love our duty and tradition, but we also love ridiculous, over-the-top, innuendo-ridden humour (think of Carry On films, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python,, Blackadder etc.). Of course, somewhere in England, in a small town, there would be an annual race with pancakes and frying pans!
Olney Pancake Race is taking place on Shrove Tuesday (13 February, 2024). You can learn more about it on their official website.
