Pancake Day/ Shrove Tuesday/ Mardi Gras

21st Feb

The terms "Mardi Gras", "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday; in English the day is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday, from the word shrive, meaning "confess." Related popular practices are associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. Popular practices include wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition. In English, the day is called Shrove Tuesday, associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.

Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday in Britain.  Pancake Day is the day before Ash Wednesday (46 days before Easter) and the start of Lent. 'Shrove' - as in Shrove Tuesday, stems from an old English word, Shrive, meaning 'confess all sins'. It is called Pancake Day because it is traditionally for eating pancakes as a way to use up any stocks of milk, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent.

The earliest records of pancakes and pancake tossing appeared in the 15th century when the pancakes were a little thicker than the modern day pancake.  They would also have added spices for a little extra taste.  It wasn't until the 18th century and the influence of  French cooking and their thinner crepes, that pancakes are more as we know them now.

See a selection of Pancake recipes HERE

The first snow of the winter has hit Mayenne!!!  

The cold weather is set to last for a few more days so keep warm and toasty! We've added some 'winter warming' recipes this month, to keep those chills at bay!

If you are interested in French related Financial & Tax issues, have a look at Jennie Poate's February article on  Understanding Income Tax in France.

Andrew Roberts from PC Repairs has an interesting Blog for you this month.  Don't forget, if you have any computer related problems, give him a call.

Valentine's Day 14th February 2012!

Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentine's Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was:

Good morning to you, valentine;
Curl your locks as I do mine ---
Two before and three behind.
Good morning to you, valentine.

In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him.

Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.

A love seat is a wide chair. It was first made to seat one woman and her wide dress. Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections, often in an S-shape. In this way, a couple could sit together -- but not too closely!