Pancake Day is almost upon us so it's time to stock up on those essentials to make the tasty treats.
Whatever your choice of topping, you'll need the basics of eggs, flour and sugar.
The big event falls on Tuesday, February 25 this year - around a week earlier than last year.
Always the days before the start of Lent in the religious calendar, Shrove Tuesday sparks the beginning of the 40 days leading into Easter, which this year takes places on April 12.
What is Pancake Day?
The tradition comes from families using up all of the treats in their kitchen cupboards in the form of pancakes, ready to start Lent the next day, where they give up something (usually chocolate, sweets or alcohol) for Lent.
The ingredients for pancakes are said to symbolise four points of significance at Easter and springtime of the year.
Eggs signify creation, flour is said to be the staff of life, salt is for wholesomeness and milk symbolises purity.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday dates back many years to Anglo-Saxon times when Christians would go to confession and were ‘shriven’ (acquitted from their sins).
A bell would be rung to call people to confession and this came to be known as the Pancake Bell.
Meanwhile pancake races - which date back to the Middle Ages - still form an important part of Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day festivities.
