International Waffle Day

Take out your waffle iron! March 25 is International Waffle Day, or Vaffeldagen, as the Swedes call it.

Although waffles have been eaten in some form for several centuries, it was the Swedes who started the trend to eat them every March 25 to commemorate the arrival of spring and also Our Lady Day, which is exactly nine months before Christmas and the day Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce she would give birth to Jesus.

Thin, crispy and served with whipped cream and lingonberries, the Swedes used these special occasions to eat waffles all day without guilt. Then, someone suggested calling their Varfrudagen (lady day) celebration Vaffeldagen (waffle day).

Travelers to Sweden liked this custom and soon many countries in Europe and Asia were celebrating Waffle Day, too, adding their own culinary imaginations to recipes that allowed the griddle-ironed goodness to be eaten in several styles and for any meal of the day, as a dessert or entree, sweet or savory.

Be creative. Search for unique recipes. Cinnamon, chocolate, whole grain, bacon and cheese, buckwheat, buttermilk, coconut, vegan, or Southern-style fried chicken ‘n waffles served with syrup.

If you are eager to celebrate International Waffle Day with compatriots worldwide, but don’t feel like mixing up a bowl of batter, pack up your car with family or friends and visit your local waffle house.

Alternatively, you can purchase Eggo waffles and jazz them up.

As the Swedes say, “De smakar mycket goda” They taste very good!