Shrove Tuesday trans-Atlantic pancake race
Across the Christian world, it’s a day for indulgence. Fats and dairy traditionally forbidden during Lent, which begins tomorrow, are packed into pastries, doughnuts and other celebrated treats, including pancakes, the inspiration of a hundreds-year-old race in Olney, England. Legend says a housewife at the stove when called to church dashed to the service with her frying pan, a pancake still inside it. More recently, the women of Liberal, Kansas, got in on the fun, challenging Olney to a friendly international competition after seeing media coverage about the event.
- Schoolchildren take part in a pancake race ahead of the annual Shrove Tuesday ladies trans-Atlantic pancake race on Tuesday in Olney, England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
- Chefs prepare pancake breakfasts on Tuesday in Olney, England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
- Women flip pancakes after the annual Shrove Tuesday ladies trans-Atlantic pancake race on Tuesday in Olney, England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
- T-shirts are sold during the annual Shrove Tuesday trans-Atlantic pancake race on Tuesday in Olney, England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
- Schoolchildren take part in a pancake race on Tuesday in Olney, England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
- Schoolchildren take part in a pancake race ahead of the annual Shrove Tuesday ladies trans-Atlantic pancake race on Tuesday in Olney, England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
- A sign advertises pancakes on Tuesday in Olney, England. On Shrove Tuesday every year the ladies of Olney, Buckinghamshire compete in a Pancake Race, a tradition which dates back to 1445. Children from Olney schools also take part in their own races. Olney competes every year against the women of Liberal, Kansas, in a friendly race dating back to 1950. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
- First place finisher Lianne Fisher, second right, runs level with second place finisher Kaisa Larkas, right, en route to setting a new course record time of 55.02 seconds during the annual Shrove Tuesday trans-Atlantic pancake race in the town of Olney, in Buckinghamshire, England, on Tuesday. Every year women clad in aprons and head scarves from Olney and the city of Liberal, in Kansas, USA, run their respective legs of the race with a pancake in their pan. According to legend, the Olney race started in 1445 when a harried housewife arrived at church on Shrove Tuesday still clutching her frying pan with a pancake in it. Liberal challenged Olney to a friendly international competition in 1950 after seeing photos of the race in a magazine. (Matt Dunham/AP)
- A sign announcing the pancake race finish line is pictured on Tuesday in Olney, England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
- Race winner Lianne Fisher is presented with an award in St. Peter and St. Paul Church during a Shrovetide service after running a record time of 55.02 seconds in the annual Shrove Tuesday trans-Atlantic pancake race on Tuesday in Olney, England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)