PANCAKE RACES

SOME HISTORY

Pancake races started in 1445 in Olney (England). 

The traditions says that a woman was making pancakes when she heard the church bells ring. She put on a scarf on her head and ran to the churchwearing an apron, and a pan with a pancake in her hand. 

Today there are races for women, men and children in every big city or small town. 
These are the rules to participate in a race:

• Wear a head scarf and an apron.
• Toss the pancake at the start and at the end, after crossing the finish line, to prove that the pancake is still in the pan.

The traditional prize is a "Kiss of Peace" from the bell-ringer.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

There is a friendly women competition between two cities: Liberal (Kansas, the USA) and Olney ( England, the UK). This competition started in 1950. The 2 races start simultaneously at 11:55 a.m. and women run about 380 metres to the church.

This is a video of 2012 competition in the town of Olney(England).

And this is a video of 2012 competition in the town of Liberal( the USA).

                               INTERESTING FACTS

• The world record for pancake tossing is 349 times in 2 minutes.
• The biggest pancake ever tossed measured 15 metres in diametre.

More information at http://www.pancakeday.net/about.htm

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