With a vast amount of Luxembourg's population coming from countries in which Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, is celebrated, kitchens around the Grand Duchy are sure to be a hive of activity today as sweet and savoury versions of the treats are prepared.
This special Tuesday was designed as a day of gluttony, a chance to consume pancakes' rich ingredients of milk, sugar and eggs before the gastronomic and symbolic repentance beginning the following day, known as Ash Wednesday. The forty days of Lent which follow were traditionally designed as a period of absolution, during which Christians would opt for a leaner and purer diet to facilitate self-examination and spiritual, physical and moral amendments.
Differences exist between cultures regarding the term by which the day is known, with Germanic languages referring to it as 'Fastnachtsdienstag' or 'vastenavond', whilst French and Swedish populations opt for the starkly honest 'Mardi Gras' and 'Fettisdagen' (Fat Tuesday).
However, greater debate lies in what one puts on the pancakes, with toppings ranging from sugar, lemon or chocolate to cinnamon, cheese or meat. So what will you be sprinkling or spreading over your pancakes?
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