On the night before Ash Wednesday, commonly referred to as Fat Tuesday, the parishioners of Christ Church gathered in their Great Hall for a pancake supper, followed by pancake Olympics.

This week kicks off the period leading up to the Christian Easter celebrations. But while Easter is typically associated with hot cross buns and chocolate eggs, there's another sweet treat to indulge in: pancakes.

The day earned its name from the Christian tradition of seeking absolution before the start of Lent. Pancakes became synonymous with Shrove Tuesday as worshippers used up rich foods like eggs, milk and sugar before commencing their Lenten fast.