New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-02
IT'S SHROVE TUESDAY.
ORIGIN OF THE GREAT DAY OF SPECIAL
FEAsTING AND MERRIMENT.
RITES PECULIAR TO THE DAT-CHURCH FEsTI-
vA1S AND PANCAKE MAKING-THE TRUE

RITES PECULIAR TO THE DAT-CHURCH FEsT1-
vA1s AND PANCAKE MAKING-THE TRUE
TOSSING OF FLAFJACKs.
lis merry in hall. when boards wag all and
welcome merry Shrovetide," sang maudlin Master
Silence Just before being carried off to bed, after
a TOO great indulgence In sack with those cornwall
roysterers. FalstaT. Shallow and Bardolph
The conversion Of this festival from its original
religious significance 10 a carnival-l.ke revery Of
;oll!ty and drollery a rapid enc. Deriving It's
name from the ancient practice IN the Church OF
Rome Of ConfesSing sins. and being shrver or
ehrove In preparation for The solemuiti.s OF the
preaching peaitentla season, It soon became time
OF special feasting aad merrimect. moro in accord
ance with the old Lupercalig1 and Baccfanalian
sprirctne festivals for which Il may have been
substituted by the early fathers. A movable feast.
occurring the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday,
Il may faI, upon any day between February and
March S II is the Mardl Gras OF the French, the
Carnival OF italy, the Eastern Eve Of Scotland and
the Pancake Tuesday Of rural England and old lit
eratuIe. - -
JUS why the pancake should have been 50 IN
nlss ubIy linked with the day in English speaking
cor1tr.es is matter Of conjecture; br the con-
stnsus OF opinion seems 10 be that il is derived
from one OF the old Saxon names for February,
which ia translated the month Of cakes because
the ancient pagans used TO offer cakes 10 the sun
f. that month.
By the sixteenth century the early bell that was
formerly set ringing dawn Of day 70 call the peo
pie 70 confession. and was therefore known as the
"shriving bell" had changed It's tune. and in its
new role was called the pancake bell" and made
signal 10 begin the preparation Of those delectabe
cakes Even the ditties Of Mother Goose rang out
with their melodies.
Say the bells II Peters
s aver the nv" Seli. 81 c6,l Hish-n
s u yGP s1 ba ihSd Of AT Wsn.1poroush
The sounds Of these bells" writes quaint John
Taylor. the Water Poet" make thousands of peo-
pie distracted and forgetfui either Of manners or
humanity"
The partshiorers Of the Vicar of Wakefield
represented as relgiously eating pancakes on
shrovetde Will. shakespeares characters make
frequent reference 10 the custom.
las fl az pancake fer shrove Tuesday" says
the clown in "As You Like It." and that sealed the
question Of fitness.
TOSSING THE FLAPJACKs
Before any pancakes were eaten the young peo-
pie gathered 10 who could most adrotly toss
the cakes in the pan. The first cake baked, which.
perforce. grew cold daring the contest was dedi-
Gated TO the greatest slut or lea bed which"
says ve-acous chroncler. commonly falls to
the dogs share last for no one Will own II their
due"
AIusion is doubtless made to this custom in a
couplet placed opposite shrove Tuesday In Poor
Richards Almanac for 1911. and in which spade
Is very properly calle1 a spade
Pancakes are at at. BY greedy
In Elizabeths day a practice at Eton was for
the COOK 10 fasten pancake 10 the Grow" (the
ancient equivalent Cor knoc&ep upon the school
door
Al Westminster School where Ben Jonson Dry
den. Locke and Gi5bon were educated the follow
fIa.
morning a verger Of the Abbey in his gown and
bearing silver baton, issues from the college
kitchen. followed by the cook Of the school i'm
maculdte in white cap. apron and jacket. and bear
ing substantial pancake Reaching the school
room where a crowd Of boys ats his coming.
he announces himself. 'the cook" and, advancing
10 the bar which divides the upper school from
the lower. losses the pancake over the bar among
the upper school men, who scramble for IT, The
lucky contestant-if he gets Il unbroken-carries
his trophy in triumph the deanery. where he de-
mands a guinea from the Abbey funds. This he
always gets. although the custom is not enrolled
upon the statute books. The cock also receives
two guneas for MS services.
RITES PECULIAR TO THE DAY.
At Brownheld In Cumberland. the pancake was
not so specially IN evidence. but other established
rites peculiar 10 the day carried out The
scholars Of the free school there assumed the right
10 bar out the master and keep him out for three
days. The doors strongly barricaded, and the
boys defended them with gu1s made OF the hollow
twigs Of alder. If the master able 10 circum-
vent his youthful enemy and make an entrance.
heavy tasks were imposed and the business Of the
school resumed. II unable TO GUST the rebels, terms
Of capitulaJion including permission TO enjoy a
full allowance Of Shroyetide sports. were sub
mitted and approved
In the grammar schools horrible custom Of
throwing at cocks furnished entertainment for the
Gay The poor bird tied by short cord 10
SUCK, broomstck was provided as missile. and
taFse shots were allowed for twopence This sport