February 16th is Pancake Day! Yes, Pancake Day is an actual holiday in many countries. That is, pancakes are associated with Shrove Tuesday, the holiday of feasting before Lent. They are often eaten on this day as a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of of Lent, earning Shrove Tuesday the nickname Pancake Day.

Pancakes themselves have been around for centuries. Researchers have even found pancakes in the stomach of Otzi the Iceman, dating back 5,300 years. Mentions of pancakes can also be found in the poetry of Ancient Greek poets, Cratinus and Magnes, and in the plays of Shakespeare.

This pancake griddle would have been used on a stove. It is made of cast iron, and has sections for four pancakes. It was found on the old Gideon Bray property in Lower Cape, and is now showcased in the Museum’s Jail.