Finally, pancakes are served on many occasions. Early on they were mainly associated with Shrove Tuesday (also known as Mardi Gras or Pancake Day), which precedes Lent. As Christians were told not to consume eggs or butter during Lent, this was a convenient time and way to use up the extras of these staples found in the house before it began. In Russia, there would be a meal of pancakes after praying for the dead.(2) In Australia, pancakes are served for dessert, whereas in the U.S., they are mainly a breakfast food. In the Netherlands, it’s common to see them served for dinner. Also, each year in Massachusetts, the world’s largest pancake breakfast is held. In 2002, they served approximately 76,000 stacks of pancakes!