Pre-reading questions:
- Do you prefer sweet or savory pancakes? Why or why not?
- How often do you eat pancakes?
Pancake Day falls 47 days before Easter so the date is not fixed, but it will always be between February 3 and March 9. British people has celebrated Pancake Tuesday for centuries. It is also called Shrove Tuesday, from the word “shrive”, which means to obtain forgiveness through confession of sins. Shrove Tuesday was based on a Christian tradition to be shriven before Lent season begins.
Aside from making and eating pancakes during Pancake Day, Britons love to have pancake races where participants run while flipping pancakes in a pan. This competition takes place in Victoria Tower Gardens next to the Houses of Parliament. The competition’s primary purpose is to raise money for disability charity rehab.
Vocabulary:
century [noun] – 100 years
confession [noun] – admitting of one’s mistakes
Lent [noun] – a yearly season of fasting observed by Christians
flipping [verb] – move, push, or throw (something) with a sudden sharp movement
charity [noun] – an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need
Comprehension Questions:
- When is Pancake Day celebrated?
- Why is Pancake Day also called as Shrove Tuesday?
- What are the usual activities during Pancake Day?
- Where are pancake races held?
- What is their purpose for organizing pancake races?
Express Your Opinion:
- Do you usually eat pancakes for breakfast? Why or why not?
- Would you be interested to join a pancake race? Why or why not?
- Please share what you know about the Lent season.
- Have you ever participated in a charity event? Please share your experience.
- What do you think about organizations hosting charity events?