International Waffle Day originated in Sweden where it is called Våffeldagen. The holiday coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation, which takes place nine months before Christmas – when the Archangel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she was pregnant. The day also celebrated the beginning of Spring. It became customary for Swedish families to celebrate the events with waffles.
Waffle Fun Facts:
-The word “waffle” is from the Dutch, meaning “wafer.” -In the late 1800’s, Thomas Jefferson returned from France with a waffle iron.
-In the US, we get TWO chances to celebrate waffles! National Waffle Day is August 24! ...It celebrates the first patented waffle iron. The patent was submitted by Cornelius Swarthout in 1869.
-Eggo Waffles were introduced in supermarket freezer sections in 1953.
-Since its founding in 1955, the Waffle House chain has sold more than 500 million waffles.
-Maurice Vermersch sold his wife’s fluffy Brussels Waffles at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Since he didn’t think anyone knew where Brussels was, he dubbed them “Belgian Waffles.”
-There are several types of waffles – American, Belgian, Scandinavian, Liège, Hong Kong, and Dutch stroopwafels.
-If you make too many, you can always freeze leftover waffles and reheat in the toaster or toaster oven.
