About Pancake Day
About the event
Pancake Day is UnitingCare South Australia’s leading fundraising event and each year falls on Shrove Tuesday, or the day before Ash Wednesday.
For perhaps thousands of years, people in Europe have celebrated the time just before spring. Some historians suggest that a festival of eating pancakes goes as far back as pre-Christian times. In 1439, the first pancake recipe appears in history, with the first Pancake Races recorded in 1445 in England. This was the last day to eat all the flour, eggs and dairy products in your kitchen before the start of Lent which is a time of abstinence and reflection in the 40 days before Easter. The European custom of making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday was one way to use up these ‘luxury’ items and over the centuries, Shrove Tuesday and pancakes became perfect partners.
Shrove Tuesday has become a traditional day to celebrate throughout the world.
Each year in Australia, thousands show their support for people in need by flipping and eating pancakes at events state-wide in SA, VIC and TAS throughout the months of February and March. Hundreds of groups including schools, churches, businesses and community organisations join in the fun. To register your own event, use the 'Register' box found to the left of this page.
Donations and money raised from the sale of pancakes goes directly to local UnitingCare organisations to help them provide practical support to South Australians in need including those without a home, people living with disabilities, vulnerable children and adults, older people and families in crisis.
Since its inception in 2002, more than one million pancakes have been sold and over $600,000 has been raised by groups state-wide!
When is Pancake Day?
- 21 Feburary 2023
What support will my group get from UnitingCare SA?
You will receive funds raised forms and posters to help make your event a success. If you require anything, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will endeavour to serve you.
After you register, please allow five working days for us to mail you a host pack. If it takes any longer, please ring us on (08) 8236 4255 and we will follow up.
What do we do with the money we raise?
It is important that you return your funds raised as soon as you can after your event. The sooner you return your funds, the sooner we can put them to good use in UnitingCare community and aged care service organisations and the hospital. All you need to do is complete your funds returned form and return it to UnitingCare SA using the pre-paid envelope provided in your event host pack, or send to GPO Box 2145 Adelaide SA 5001.
If you wish, you can deduct your expenses from the money you raise.
Funds can be sent in the following ways:
- Online
- Cheque/Money order payable to UCA Synod SA Pancake Day
- Cash delivered in person to UnitingCare, Level 2, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA 5000.
If you lose your registration number, please email Turn on Javascript! or phone (08) 8236 4255.
You can find a 'Replacement Funds Raised' in the left hand column on this page.
Who is UnitingCare?
The Uniting Church exists to join in with God’s mission of reconciliation and renewal of the whole creation. UnitingCare is one way the church seeks to transform lives, community and society into places of hope and opportunity for everyone. Our vision is a compassionate and just community in which all people belong and are able to reach their full potential.
Through the organisations, schools and colleges associated with the Uniting Church, the UnitingCare network demonstrates its commitment to supporting vulnerable members of our community and the importance of engaging all people in advocating for a better world.
In South Australia, UnitingCare is a diverse group of 23 independent community and aged care services, hospital, schools and colleges associated with the Uniting Church which are also part of a national network of more than 400 Uniting Church organisations. For more information about these organisations, schools and colleges, please contact them directly using the menu at the left.
To learn more, visit the UnitingCare organisations section of our website.
For other questions, check out our planning guide and other host pack resources here or email Turn on Javascript! or ring us on (08) 8236 4255 - we are always happy to chat with you.