Good Morning and Happy Saint George's Day!
Today in England (and a little part of the Texas Hill Country!) the feast day of Saint George is being variously celebrated. Our national saint, George, was first mentioned in British sources by the Venerable Bede in the seventh century A.D. as a warrior saint who frequently came to the aid of troubled Brits in military distress.
Another national hero of ours (not quite a saint), Will Shakespeare invokes George before the battle of Agincourt, "Follow your spirit, cry "God for Harry, England and St. George". Rousing stuff, enough to make you want to belt out a few verses of "Jerusalem" - which in actual fact IS another St. George's day activity the likes of which is enough to reduce ex-pats like me to tears!
St. George eventually made his way to the New World also as his
flag
was flown above/on the Mayflower as it arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. I think (unless someone corrects me) that it stopped there though and none of the more 'modern' St. George's day celebrations have crossed my radar while living here. I haven't, for example, seen any St. George's day
Morris dancing or Punch and Judy shows.
Ah well, I will celebrate the best way I can by wearing my red rose in my lapel and of course by drinking tea. Mind you, a 21st century addition to tradition might be in order by visiting the Cath Kidston page where red items of the day are prominently showcased in George's honor! http://www.cathkidston.co.uk
Happy Saint George's Day Y'all!
Today in the life of our local church we are celebrating Fat Tuesday. We will have a community gathering and eat real American pancakes with sausage and syrup. The proceeds will go to a good cause, I won't have to think of something for supper that will please all five people in my family and a good time will be had by all!
In England, a little less imaginatively, they/we are celebrating Pancake Day! Today is Shrove Tuesday - not a name you hear often around these parts! it seems to me that Fat/Shrove Tuesday and Pancake day are pretty much the same thing just celebrated a bit differently. No cheap shots please from my overseas friends about the use of the word "Fat" on this side of the Atlantic :)
Both terms describe the day before the start of Lent, a day of releasing high spirits and using up rich foods before the sombre time of denial and reflection. The word "Shrove" is the past participle of "Shrive" - or obtaining absolution for sins by way of confession and penance. I love these archaic English terms!
In England today in addition to the consumption of wafer thin pancakes with lemon juice and sugar, all sorts of traditions are taking place. As part of the community celebrations there may be a "mob football" game, a tradition dating back to at least the 12th century if not earlier where teams from different villages would play this somewhat violent game as part of the festivities or there may be a pancake race! Pancake races are terrific fun! The story goes that a housewife was so busy making her pancakes that she forgot the time. When she heard the church bells ringing to call her to Shrove Tuesday service she dashed out of the house still flipping her pancakes in the pan!
Vive la difference!
So before we enter our time of reflection and denial here's a moment of levity
What did the young pancake say to the old burnt pancake?
"I don't like your flip side"!!! GROAN!!!!!
Here, courtesy of Emma Bridgewater is a lovely recipe for English pancakes!
Ingredients
1 Cup plain Flour, 3 eggs, 2 Cups milk, 2 Tablespoons melted butter, 1 Tablespoon of sugar, 1 Pinch of salt
Method~Sift the flour and salt in a bowl and add the sugar
Make a well in the flour, stir in eggs and milk (beaten well together) and the melted butter, whisking it into a cream thick batter Leave it in the fridge for an hour to stand if possible
~Heat a thick frying pan and coat with oil. Pour in less mixture than you think and tip the pan about until the batter covers the base the thinner the pancake the better
~As soon as it has crisped underneath FLIP with a confident gesture and cook the other side
~To avoid screaming make the first few before you admit they are ready then the wait for the first pancakes is shorter
~Keep eating them till the batter is gone
Happy Pancake Tuesday!
