Holidays:
Celebrating waffles
Did you know that waffles have their own holiday? In Sweden, 25 March is celebrated as Våffeldagen. Originally, this day was linked to the Christian feast of the Annunciation (called "Vårfrudagen" in Swedish). A linguistic mix-up in the 17th century led to "Vårfrudagen" becoming "Våffeldagen". Since then, Swedes have celebrated the occasion by making and eating waffles.
In the United States, National Waffle Day is celebrated on 24 August, commemorating the day in 1869 when Cornelius Swarthout patented an early version of the waffle iron. Unlike the Swedish celebration of waffles, the American holiday focuses on the invention of the waffle iron. Of course, many waffles are made on this day in the US, but the holiday is celebrated primarily in Swarthout's home region.
Sayings:
"To have a waffle"
The phrase "to have a waffle" may sound like it refers to the popular treat, but its origin lies elsewhere. In German, the phrase "einen an der Waffel haben" means "to be a little crazy" and has nothing to do with the waffle as a food. Instead, it refers to the mouth, as explained in the Brothers Grimm dictionary.
The verb "waffeln" means "to talk nonsense" and in English "to waffle" has a similar meaning: "to babble or ramble". The expression probably evolved to describe someone who talks nonsense, babbles or is unclear. In some German dialects, "waffel" is still used as a slang term for "mouth".
Records:
The world's largest wafer
The world record for the largest waffle was set in Norway in 2008. This giant waffle was 63.5 cm (25 inches) in diameter and weighed 2.13 kg (4.7 lbs). The waffle iron? Two manhole covers, creatively repurposed for the occasion!
From holidays and sayings to world records, waffles are full of delightful surprises. They're more than just a tasty treat - they connect cultures, inspire language and even hold world records!