About British Yorkshire Pudding Day

Sunday 5th February 2012
 

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Jump to: -   Why Yorkshires?  |  Why the first Sunday in February  |  Conclusion

Why Yorkshires?

To me, Yorkshire Pudding is one of the most iconic of British dishes, famous not only in the UK but also abroad.  It is a treasured dish which most Britons (and many visitors to our country) will have eaten at least once, and many who live in the

UK consume it on a regular basis - once or twice a month, frequently more.

It is also a recipe which has stood the test of time, with its present form boasting a history dating back to the 1700s and its predecessor, Batter Pudding, having been eaten perhaps centuries before that throughout Great Britain.  In fact, it's probably safe to say that as long as meat has been spit roasted, some form of Yorkshire Pudding has been made, though no-one really knows when it was first eaten.

More importantly, it is a recipe of the people -  no matter what their background or where they live, millions have enjoyed it, so what better British dish to honour than Yorkshire Pudding.

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Why the 1st Sunday in February

Although the idea was fully formulated some months before, in order to give everyone enough time to identify with the concept and 'get on board', I decided to delay the actual day.  February seemed a good month, not only because the weather, being rather chilly in the UK, is conducive  to eating comfort food, but it's also long enough after Christmas that everyone will have forgotten any feelings of guilt they may have been harbouring for having over indulged.

As Sunday Roast Dinners are probably still the most popular time when people make and eat Yorkshires, it seemed logical that British Yorkshire Pudding Day should be on a Sunday . . . . but which Sunday?

At the time of its inception, many Britons still follow the tradition of adhering to Lent,  a 40 day period of abstention from eating certain foods,  starting in February and ending at Easter. Although today those who observe Lent often just give up something they like, such as chocolate, traditionally the eating of rich foods was prohibited during this period, so people would make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to use up any eggs, milk and fats they may have.