If you think there is a slightly bigger waffle focus in the cafeteria or at the local kiosk today, you are probably right. March 25th is Waffle Day.

Waffle Day originates from Sweden, and the date is exactly nine months before Christmas, and the day when the Virgin Mary learned that she was pregnant with Jesus, also called Annunciation.

In Sweden the day is nicknamed “the Day of our Lady”, after Virgin Mary and the beginning of spring. Because of sloppy pronunciation and weird Swedish dialects, “vårfruedag” (the Day of our Lady) became “vaffeldag” (Waffle Day).

Although this explanation may sound creative enough, the relationship between Virgin Mary and waffles are not as far as one might think. In Scandinavia, Annunciation has been celebrated with cake for many years.

Norwegians eat most waffles in Scandinavia. Although the Swedes “invented” the Nordic type, waffles are much more common in Norway than in Sweden.

• See also: Popular Norwegian Waffles Down Under

Manhole Cover Became Waffle Iron

Already in the 1300s, large, square waffle irons were used in Germany and the Netherlands. They made what we know as Belgian waffles, which is also the most common type in the US. In 1869, American Cornelius Swarthout patented the first waffle iron.

Heart-shaped waffles are a Scandinavian phenomenon. In 2008, Norwegian Rolf Moen created the world’s largest waffle. With 0.7 gallons (2.8 liters) batter he made a 4.4 pounds (2 kg) waffle, which gave him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. The record waffle was fried between two manhole covers from downtown Oslo.

PS: If you happen to be near a Norwegian Seaman’s Church, it is recommended that you pay a visit to taste their award winning delicious waffles.

Text by: Anette Broteng Christiansen, ThorNews

Source: Ditt Oslo

Photo: STIF

Categories: Culinary Surprises, Culture, Traditional Food