I'm British too, and it's frankly ridiculous. I can understand the religious symbolism, but the consumerism is another thing entirely. And I'm not even religious.
'S' called Shrove Tuesday, and it's today, and it's another excuse for people in Britain to go buy/make Pancakes. It's a bit of a marketing scam, like Valentines Day and such.
Okay, I already know the piano and flute...
So I think I will learn Guitar, or Banjo, or Lute. Either will do, they're all pretty much the same when it comes down to it.