Flipping fascinating facts on Pancake Day

Shrove Tuesday has, as you can imagine, plenty of history attached.

And Sam Bilton of English Heritage has been researching its origins and the importance of today in the Christian calendar.

He says: “In Christian traditions, the 40 days before Easter are known as Lent, and they mark the time that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. Traditionally, Christians would mark the period with prayers and fasting, abstaining from a whole range of foods, including meat, eggs, fish, fats and milk.

“The word ‘shrove’ comes from the old Roman Catholic practice of being ‘shriven’ – meaning to confess one’s sins. The shriving bell would be rung on Shrove Tuesday to call people to church to confess.”