LONDON (AP) — Racers dressed as a skyscraper, beekeeper and a chest of drawers have been amongst dozens of runners in zany costumes zipping round a central London sq. with a frying pan in hand to have fun Shrove Tuesday, or “Pancake Day.”Loads of folks packed into Guildhall Backyard, cheering as members in the yearly Inter-Livery Pancake Race ran across the sq. whilst tossing pancakes of their frying pans.
A competitor flips a pancake throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
A competitor flips a pancake throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
Runners in costumes compete throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
Runners in costumes compete throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
Runners compete throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
Runners compete throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
The spectacle used to be one of the such pancake races around the U.Okay. to mark the day ahead of the beginning of Lent, the 40-day length ahead of Easter that Christians mark with prayers, fasting and repentance. Celebrated as Mardi Gras, or Fats Tuesday, in different portions of the arena, the title Shrove Tuesday derives from the English phrase which means to hunt forgiveness or be granted absolution.
A runner competes throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
A runner competes throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
A competitor flips a pancake throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
A competitor flips a pancake throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
The oldest and most famed of pancake races happen within the small the town of Olney, England, which legend has it held its first run in 1445.
Nowadays the general public mark Shrove Tuesday via cooking pancakes in a nod to the customized of the use of up eggs and butter ahead of the length of abstinence starts. The Inter-Livery race featured groups donning fancy get dressed or conventional garb that constitute their livery firms — ancient guilds or business associations that experience existed in London for nearly 1,000 years.
A runner competes throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
A runner competes throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
The corporate of gunmakers fired the beginning gun, the clockmakers timed the races, whilst the “fruiterers” equipped the lemons to head with the pancakes on sale from stands on the sq.. Winners obtain a trophy — in addition to a frying pan.
Competition parade in costumes throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
Competition parade in costumes throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
A runner competes throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
A runner competes throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
Runners compete throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)
Runners compete throughout a conventional pancake race via livery firms on the Guildhall in London, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.(AP Picture/Frank Augstein)Learn Extra
