Whether you know it as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day, 17 February is the day to gorge on one of the most fattening of breakfast treats.
Commemorating the eve of Lent (40 days and nights of fasting and prayers before Easter), it is a day where one confesses one’s sins and asks God for absolution.
The word Shrove comes from the Old English word Shrive – to confess one’s sins. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday, which is marked in the Western Christian Church by services of penitence.
It is time to consume pancakes in vast quantities
The reason we indulge in pancakes on Shrove Tuesday is because they contain fat, butter and eggs, all of which used to be forbidden during Lent. These days, participants tend to give up less vital dietary ingredients such as chocolate or coffee.
(Translation: Pancake day is an opportunity to gorge yourself silly before 40 days of abstinence).
Speaking of last hurrahs, in New Orleans Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as the extravagant Mardi Gras carnival (translating literally as Fat Tuesday in French). And those guys know a thing or two about partying...
16 International Takes On The Mighty Pancake
International Pancakes
France: Crepes(01 of16)
Crepes are possibly the thinnest type of pancake you can eat. In France, they're often eaten as a snack instead of breakfast. And they're filled with anything from sugar to ham and cheese. (credit:Ildi_Papp via Getty Images)
Denmark: Aebleskiver(02 of16)
These spherical Danish pancakes win for being the most fun to eat. They're the beautiful combination of fluffy pancake and airy pop over. (credit:bhofack2 via Getty Images)
Poland: Naleśniki(03 of16)
Naleśniki is Poland's version of the crepe. They fill them with sweet ingredients such as fresh fruit and jam as well as with savory ingredients like fried chicken. (credit:K. Yasuhara/Flickr)
Australia: Pikelets(04 of16)
Pikelets are similar to buttermilk pancakes but they're smaller and are traditionally served with afternoon tea. Also, they're topped with jam, whipped cream or butter -- never maple syrup. (credit:Kylie Townsend via Getty Images)
Austria: Kaiserschmarrn(05 of16)
Leave it to the Austrians to find the most delicious way to serve pancakes. These pastry geniuses have broken their pancake into pieces so that it gets even more buttery caramelization. They also top it with dried fruit and nuts. (credit:2Mmedia via Getty Images)
Malaysia: Apam Balik(06 of16)
Found at roadside stalls, these griddle cakes are traditionally topped with butter and ground roasted peanuts and sweet corn. These days, you can also find them in strawberry and chocolate flavors. (credit:Flickr: Yun Huang Yong)
Somalia: Anjero(07 of16)
Anjero is a spongy, chewy sourdough pancake that has a slightly sweet and sour taste. Ethiopia has a similar one called Injera, which is slightly larger. (credit:Flickr: Adriana Chirea)
Thailand: Roti(08 of16)
Street vendors sell these sweet rolled pancakes sometimes drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, sometimes with caramelized bananas and sometimes with both. (credit:Quynh Anh Nguyen via Getty Images)
Russia: Buckwheat Blini(09 of16)
In Russia, blini are often served in connection with a religious rite -- not just as a Sunday morning affair. They're traditionally served with butter, sour cream, fruit preserves or caviar. (credit:Flickr: DinnersOut)
Finland: Pannukakku(10 of16)
The Finnish bake their pancakes in the oven rather than fry them in a skillet. They're also served as dessert, not for breakfast. (credit:Flickr: smerikal)
India: Malapua(11 of16)
Malapua is traditionally prepared in Bengali homes as a dessert or snack. There are many variations on this Indian dessert. Some recipes call for mashed bananas, others use cardamom, but all of them are awesome. (credit:ampersandyslexia/Flickr)
Netherlands: Pannenkoeken(12 of16)
Also known as the Dutch pancake, these crepe-like pancakes are thinner and larger than the buttermillk version. And sometimes bacon, apples, cheese, or raisins are incorporated IN them. (credit:gottasharepics (Kathy Dempsey)/Flickr)
Germany: Pfannkuchen(13 of16)
Germany's version of the pancake is very similar to the French crepe. (credit:Flickr: Sofie Dittmann)
Mexico: Hotcakes(14 of16)
Mexican hotcakes are similar to U.S. pancakes only they're often made with cornmeal. (credit:Flickr: @tanke67 Vazquez)
Iceland: Pönnukökur(15 of16)
Icelandic pancakes are light and sweet. Try your hand at them with this easy recipe. (credit:All That Cooking)
U.S.: Buttermilk Pancakes(16 of16)
Fluffy, sweet and almost always topped with syrup -- they can be made with endless add-ins. (credit:MikeyGen73 via Getty Images)
Pancake Recipes
Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes(01 of35)
Get the Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes recipe by Simply Recipes (credit:Simply Recipes)
Whole Wheat Greek Yogurt Pancakes(02 of35)
Get the Whole Wheat Greek Yogurt Pancakes recipe by How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Chocolate Pancakes(03 of35)
Get the Chocolate Pancakes recipe by Foodiecrush (credit:Foodiecrush)
Cake Batter Pancakes(04 of35)
Get the Cake Batter Pancakes recipe by How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Banana Nut Pancakes(05 of35)
Get the Banana Nut Pancakes recipe by A Beautiful Mess (credit:A Beautiful Mess)
Buckwheat Pancakes(06 of35)
Get the Buckwheat Pancakes recipe by Simply Recipes (credit:Simply Recipes)
Basic Buttermilk Pancake(07 of35)
Get the Basic Buttermilk Pancake recipe by Buns In My Oven (credit:Buns In My Oven)
Cappuccino Pancakes With Mocha Syrup(08 of35)
Get the Cappuccino Pancakes With Mocha Syrup recipe by Pastry Affair (credit:Pastry Affair)
Nutella Pancakes(09 of35)
Get the Nutella Pancakes recipe by Bel'allimento (credit:Bel'allimento)
Ombre Ricotta Pancakes(10 of35)
Get the Ombre Ricotta Pancakes recipe by A Beautiful Mess (credit:A Beautiful Mess)
Chocolate Chip Pancakes(11 of35)
Get the Chocolate Chip Pancakes recipe by Pass The Sushi (credit:Pass The Sushi)
Toffee Nut Pancakes(12 of35)
Get the Toffee Nut Pancakes recipe by A Spicy Perspective (credit:A Spicy Perspective)
Whole Wheat-Flax Buttermilk Pancakes(13 of35)
Get the Whole Wheat-Flax Buttermilk Pancakes recipe by Portuguese Girl Cooks (credit:Portuguese Girl Cooks)
S'mores Pancakes(14 of35)
Get the S'mores Pancakes recipe by Pastry Affair (credit:Pastry Affair)
Cinnamon Polenta Pancakes(15 of35)
Get the Cinnamon Polenta Pancakes recipe (credit:Quentin Bacon/Food&Wine)
The Breslin's Ricotta Pancakes With Orange Syrup(16 of35)
Get The Breslin's Ricotta Pancakes with Orange Syrup recipe (credit:Lucy Schaeffer/Food & Wine)
Ricotta Pancakes With Apple-Calvados Syrup(17 of35)
Get the Ricotta Pancakes with Apple-Calvados Syrup recipe by Viviane Bauquet Farre via Food52 (credit: Viviane Bauquet Farre)
Sausage Pancakes(18 of35)
Get the Sausage Pancakes recipe by Honey and Jam (credit:Honey and Jam)
Blueberry-Banana Pancakes(19 of35)
Get the Blueberry-Banana Pancakes recipe (credit:John Kernick/Food&Wine)
Lemon Cornmeal Pancakes(20 of35)
Get the Lemon Cornmeal Pancakes recipe by Two Peas and their PodWho knew that pancakes could look this perfect. Yours can look like that too with this citrusy recipe. (credit:Two Peas and their Pod)
Apple Cider Pancakes With Cinnamon Syrup(21 of35)
Get the Apple Cider Pancakes with Cinnamon Syrup recipe by Buns In My Oven (credit:Buns In My Oven)
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes(22 of35)
Get the Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes recipe by Minimalist Baker (credit:Minimalist Baker)
Coconut Pancakes With Grilled Bananas(23 of35)
Get the Coconut Pancakes with Grilled Bananas and Salted Caramel Rum Sauce recipe by Citrus and Candy (credit:Citrus and Candy)
Blueberry Pancakes(24 of35)
Get the Blueberry Pancakes recipe by Cook Your Dream (credit:Cook You Dream)
Chocolate Pancakes(25 of35)
Get the Chocolate Pancakes recipe (credit:Marcus Samuelsson)
Pumpkin Pancakes(26 of35)
Get the Pumpkin Pancakes recipe by Buns In My Oven (credit:Buns In My Oven)
Whole Grain Pumpkin Pancakes(27 of35)
Get the Whole Grain Pumpkin Pancakes recipe by Honey and Jam (credit:Honey and Jam)
Oatmeal Pancakes(28 of35)
Get the Oatmeal Pancakes recipe by Simply Recipes (credit:Simply Recipes)
Peanut Butter & Jelly Pancakes(29 of35)
Get the Peanut Butter & Jelly Pancakes recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Banana Pancakes(30 of35)
Get the Banana Pancakes recipe by Annie's Eats (credit:Annie's Eats)
Blackberry Cobbler Pancakes(31 of35)
Get the Blackberry Cobbler Pancakes recipe by Cherry Tea Cakes (credit:Cherry Tea Cakes)
Bourbon-Maple Syrup On Egg Nog Pancakes(32 of35)
Get the Bourbon-Maple Syrup on Egg Nog Pancakes recipe by Jerry James Stone via Food52 (credit: Jerry James Stone)
Banana-Walnut Pancakes With Maple-Cinnamon Brown Butter(33 of35)
Get the Banana-Walnut Pancakes with Maple-Cinnamon Brown Butter recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Orange-Ginger Pancakes With Citrus-Honey Topping(34 of35)
Get the Orange-Ginger Pancakes with Citrus-Honey Topping recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Lemon And Raspberry Pancakes With Coconut Cream (35 of35)
Get the Lemon & Raspberry Pancakes with Coconut Cream recipe by The Urban Poser (credit:The Urban Poser)