• Flipping runners at Washington National Cathedral Pancake Race

    Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    A competitor loses control of his pancake while racing during the Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, tradition at the National Cathedral on Tuesday in Washington, DC. Pancake racers use frying pans to flip a cake three times while running about 30 meters against fellow competitors. Shrove Tuesday is the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Christian season of Lent.

    Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    Father Matthew Hanisian, assistant rector at St. Alban's Parish, flips a pancake while racing.

    Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images

    A young competitor loses his pancake while running his heat on Tuesday during the annual Washington National Cathedral Pancake Race in Washington, DC.

  • Cathal McNaughton / Reuters

    Britain's Prince William's finacee flips a pancake during their visit on Shrove Tuesday to City Hall in Belfast in this combination photo on March 8, 2011.

    Kate 'flips' (pancakes) over Northern Ireland

    By Mish Whalen

    Britain’s hottest couple made their first official visit to Northern Ireland on Tuesday, part of a pre-wedding tour of the U.K. Read more about their visit, here and more about Pancake Day here.