History
The Greaze has been held "Up School" annually on Shrove Tuesday since at least 1753. It is mentioned by Jeremy Bentham, and William Hone quotes a 1790 reference. [1]
The head cook ceremoniously tosses a pancake over a 20 foot high iron bar; members of the school fight for the pancake for up to one minute. The pupil who gets the largest weight is awarded a gold sovereign and the Dean "begs a Play" (a half day off school) for the whole School. [2]
Michael Longford, author of the memoir "The Path that Led to Africa", describes winning The Greaze in 1943: "I was the tallest boy in line so it [the pancake] landed squarely in my arms. The next two minutes were sheer torture. I was flat on my stomach with what seemed like a hundred hands clawing at me, and a mass of writhing bodies above me making breathing virtually impossible. When the judge's whistle blew...I was the winner of the Greaze, though it was entirely a matter of luck rather than skill." [3]
Over the years, the precise rituals and practicalities have evolved, but the essential format has remained: the cook tosses the pancake, students scramble, judges weigh portions, and the winner is declared. [2] Historically, a cook failing to lob the pancake over the bar might be “booked” or subjected to light teasing (formerly via being pelted with Latin primers), though that practice has since lapsed. [2] Fancy dress is now common for participants. [1]
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