Britons will not have to wait long before they can tuck into fresh pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
The celebration, which starts the countdown to Easter, marks the final day of indulgence before Lent begins.
For many Britons, it is a time to prepare batter, demonstrate their pancake-flipping skills and enjoy sweet toppings.
The day precedes the 40-day period of fasting and sacrifice leading up to Easter.
Close-up of a stack of pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup on a plate as healthy breakfast
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The exact date of Shrove Tuesday moves every year because it is based on a calendar calculation involving the moon.
Pancake Day will fall on March 4 this year, giving Britons just a few hours to get their ingredients together.
Christians observe this time as a period of fasting, reflecting Jesus's 40-day fast in the desert following his baptism.
The name "Shrove" comes from the English word "shrive", meaning to seek forgiveness or absolution from sins.
In medieval times, a "shriving bell" would be rung to call people to church to confess.
The religious practice gave the day its name, as Christians prepared spiritually for the Lenten period ahead.
And the popular link between pancakes and Shrove Tuesday dates back to the Middle Ages.
Probationer Choristers of the Salisbury Cathedral Choir practice tossing pancakes ahead of Shrove Tuesday, at Salisbury Cathedral
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Pancakes with strawberries and dips
MORRISONSDuring this period, Christians were forbidden from consuming dairy products during Lent.
Households needed to use up their eggs, milk and butter before the fasting period began.
The solution was to make pancakes or fritters, creating a practical tradition that continues to this day.
According to English Heritage, children would traditionally go "Shroving" on Shrove Tuesday.
This involved knocking on neighbours' doors and singing a special rhyme.
The children would sing: "We be come a-shroving, for a piece of pancake, or a bite of bacon."
This door-to-door tradition was another way communities celebrated the day before Lent began.
Players from the Up'ards and the Down'ards battle for the ball during the annual Royal Shrovetide Football Game on February 14, 2024 in Ashbourne, England
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One medieval tradition still endures in the Buckinghamshire town of Olney - an annual pancake race.
Thought to be the world's oldest of its kind, the race is only open to female residents.
Participants must complete a 415-yard course while holding a frying pan.
According to folklore, the contest began in 1445 when a housewife ran to church service on Shrove Tuesday with a pan still in her hand.
Another ancient tradition is the Shrovetide football game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
Locals divide into two teams - the Up'ards and Down'ards - who must move a cork-filled ball through the town.
Players aim to hit the ball three times on stone plinths placed three miles apart.
Local historian Tim Baker told the BBC: "Things can get quite harsh on the day if tempers fray, especially if they've been in the pub a little while before, but it's a friendly rivalry."
