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In this episode, we are digging into the history of Shrovetide in early modern England. We've previously discussed Shrovetide as a possible date for the first production of As You Like It, but what did this holiday mean for the people of Shakespeare's time?
We look at Shrovetide's origins as the last hurrah before the fasting and restraint of Lent to the customs that came to define it: feasting, football, cockfighting, pancakes, and festivals. We also look at where Shrovetide turns up in Shakespeare and other literature of the early modern period.
Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.
Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.
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Works referenced:
Brears, Peter C. D. Cooking and Dining in Tudor and Early Stuart England. Prospect Books, 2015.
Foster, Pamela. "Shrove Tuesday and the British Pancake Tradition: From Mrs. Patmore's Kitchen to Your Table." Downton Abbey Cooks, 16 Feb. 2026, downtonabbeycooks.com/why-do-we-have-pancakes-on-shrove-tuesday/.
Hutton, Ronald. The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford University Press, 2011.
Olney Pancake Race, Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Olney, 2026, olneypancakerace.org/.
Teysko, Heather. " From Pancakes to Fasting: Shrovetide and Lent in Tudor England." History and Coffee, YouTube, 11 Feb. 2026, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHJaT3qZy_Y.
"Why Do We Eat Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?" English Heritage, 2026, www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/kids/kids-rule-makes-and-bakes/pancakes-shrove-tuesday/.
