Pancake breakfast

Apancake breakfastis a public meal attached to manyfestivals, religious celebrations, and community events which involves volunteers cooking large quantities ofpancakesand other hot breakfast foods for the general public, often for free or for a nominal charge if the event is a fundraiser.
ThroughoutChristendom, the tradition of pancake breakfasts is carried out onShrove Tuesday, the last day ofShrovetideand the day preceding the start of the somber season ofLent, as many Christians give up fatty foods as theirLenten sacrifice.
The tradition is especially noted inWestern Canada, where it is associated with the region's cattleranchinghistory.
This mainly Canadian tradition appears to be related to the tradition in the neighboring United States in which various groups use pancake breakfasts as a means to raise funds for schools and charities.
In Alberta, Canada, the tradition is also closely associated with the major summer fairs and exhibitions of each town and city, including most famouslyK-Daysin Edmonton,and theCalgary Stampedein that city.  The Calgary Stampede, Canada's largest rodeo, had been associated with pancake breakfasts since 1923 when a local rancher began serving pancakes from hiscamp stoveduring the festivities to anyone who came by.The tradition soon became for local businesses and charities across Calgary and Edmonton to host breakfasts for their employees, customers, and others during the Stampede and K-Days. Likewise with Westerner Days inRed Deer, etc.  Besides the fairs and rodeos, pancakes are also widely served onCanada Day, including at theAlberta Legislature.
There has also been a long connection between these breakfast events and politics.  ThePremier of Albertaannually hosts pancake breakfasts at both K-Days and the Calgary Stampede which are frequently attended by many other politicians, keen to be seen by the public at such events.  And politicians are also the main volunteers behind the Canada Day breakfast hosted by theLegislative Assembly of Alberta.  Likewise, most small townfairsin Alberta feature a pancake breakfast hosted by the mayor and councilors and other local notables.  These events are now part of a "barbecue circuit" of summer community events that Canadian politicians are expected to attend.
Over time, the pancake breakfasts associated with the Calgary Stampede have evolved into large affairs in which big international corporate sponsors tried to out do each otherand sometime overshadows the smaller breakfasts. Many large deals are sometime made at these breakfasts.More than 100 different breakfasts might be hosted during this time period.Breakfasts at the Stampede is important enough for theCanadian Prime Ministerand national leaders of the other important political parties to attend as a server at some of these breakfasts. One of the largest breakfasts is held annually at theChinook Centrein which 60,000 people are served.
Pancake breakfasts are also closely associated withCanadian footballfan culture, especially around the Alberta teams.  Both Calgary and Edmonton fan organizations host pancake breakfasts duringGrey Cupweek festivities each year.  The tradition began at the1948 championshipwhen hundreds ofCalgary Stampedersfans descended on Toronto for their team's first appearance in the game.Bringing chuckwagons and horses, the fans organized a Stampede week style pancake breakfast for bewildered Torontonians. According to historianHugh Dempsey, "[t]he Grey Cup was just another game until Calgary went down to Toronto with chuckwagons and everything and turned it into an event."Free pancake breakfasts are now offered in the Grey Cup host city anytime Calgary is invited to the Grey Cup match.