Who doesn’t love a good ol’ waffle? Waffles have that crispy exterior with a soft and almost cake-like interior. Usually, waffles are served by covering them in powdered sugar, sweet syrup, jam, whipped cream, berries, etc.
March 25th is International Waffle Day. And it turned out that waffle day and waffle itself have some interesting stories. Here are some things that you need to know about the waffle history. Let’s check them out!
The History of Waffle Day
Waffle Day has an interesting history behind it. It all began in Scandinavia as Våffeldagen. There was a confusion between Våffeldagen and the Swedish Vårfrudagen, which means “Our Lady’s Day” which is a religious holiday celebrated in late March. As time goes by, the pronunciation for Vårfrudagen was slurred.
No one knows exactly when Waffle Day began, as waffles themselves have been around in Sweden since the 1600s. But nowadays, Waffle Day is not only celebrated in Sweden but also in Norway and Denmark, as well as other European countries.
Even though International Waffle Day is celebrated every March 25th, the alternative Waffle Day is also celebrated every August 24th. This alternative Waffle Day began in the United States to honor the anniversary of the patenting of the first US waffle iron in 1869 which was invented by Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York.
Belgian Waffles
Belgian waffles were officially introduced to the Americans at the World’s Fair, held in 1964 in Syracuse, New York. A Belgian family, which was Maurice and Rose Vermersch, along with their daughters made waffles that were different from American Waffles.
The waffles that this Belgian family made were crispy, fluffy, and airy. Because of the uniqueness of these waffles, the waffles became an instant hit and it said that the family served about 2,500 waffles every single day.
Originally, these waffles were meant to be called ‘Brussels Waffles’ as these snacks were popular in Brussel, the Belgian capital. But the family was quick to realize that most Americans didn’t even know where Brussel was, so they ended up calling the ‘Belgian Waffles’.
Did you know the history of waffles? What kind of waffle do you like the most? Share with us your favorite waffles in the comment section below!