The Legend of Pancake Day began in 1445, when a housewife in Olney, England started baking her pancakes rather late. They were not quite finished when the church bell rang. Because she did not want to leave her pancakes to burn, she hurried to the “shriving” carrying her griddle and the pancakes with her. This began the start of the annual sporting event in England known as the pancake race.
Since then, Pancake Day has become a traditional on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday aka Fat Tuesday).
In 1950 Liberal Kansas heard of this 500 year old event and began a tradition of their own. Since then, on Pancake Day Liberal has had their own International running of the Pancake Race every year on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday aka Fat Tuesday). Their race coincides with one in Olney England and at the end of the race times of the winners in both Olney and Liberal are compared by Trans-Atlantic telephone and an international winner is declared.
The Pancake Race has become a symbolic event of peace and unity between the United States and England. In anticipation and preparation for the Pancake Day Race, Liberal hosts a concert, amateur talent show, pancake eating contest, parade, community pancake breakfast, Kids races, Men’s Pacer race, International Pancake Race, receptions and other special events provide for a full schedule during the celebration.
It has also become customary for Liberal and Olney to send dignitaries to each country, so that an official representative is present at the race. At the end of the race, the dignitary congratulates the race winner with the Kiss of Peace.
You can watch a video of the event (2008) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4r008ea1_0.
(source: Pancake Day ~ www.pancakeday.net)
