WAFFLE DAY (Sweden)
Every year on March 25th, Scandinavians celebrate their love of waffles. Waffle Day is especially popular in Sweden, but Scandinavians in Norway and Denmark also celebrate the day.
#WaffleDay
Christians in Sweden observe the Feast of Annunciation on March 25th. On this day, the angel Gabriel is believed to have told the Virgin Mary she was to be the mother of Jesus Christ. (This date is exactly nine months before Christmas Day). The Feast of Annunciation is also known as “Our Lady’s Day.”
In Swedish, the word for Our Lady’s Day is Vårfrudagen. When said quickly, the word Vårfrudagen sounds like våffeldagen, which is the Swedish word for waffle. For this reason, Swedes are known for eating waffles on the Feast of Annunciation.
Today, more people in Sweden eat waffles on this day, instead of celebrating the Virgin Mary.
You probably already know what a waffle is. In case you don’t, it’s made with the same ingredients as pancakes. The difference between the two is that waffles are cooked between two plates or a waffle iron. One difference between Swedish waffles is that they are flatter than traditional Belgian waffles. This is because Swedish waffles are made without yeast.
Most waffles are either square, round, or rectangular-shaped. Traditional waffles in Scandinavia, however, are four heart-shaped waffles stuck together. No matter what shape they are made, waffles always contain a pattern of squares, which are great for soaking up butter, syrup, and other toppings.
HOW TO OBSERVE WAFFLE DAY
Just because this day is especially popular amongst Scandinavians, doesn’t mean you can’t join in on the celebration. Because, after all, who doesn’t love waffles? While Scandinavians usually top their waffles with jam and lightly whipped cream, there are many other creative ways to eat them.
Try some of these yummy toppings:
- Peanut butter, sliced bananas, and chocolate sauce
- Marshmallow fluff, graham cracker crumbles, and chocolate sauce
- Crushed pineapple, sweetened shredded coconut, and macadamia nuts
- Cream cheese, lox, and capers
- Canadian bacon, poached egg, and hollandaise sauce
- Bacon, lettuce, and tomato
- Applesauce, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts
Another fun way to celebrate the day is to host a waffle party and let your guest choose their own toppings! You could also attempt to make your own Swedish waffles. Take a photo of your waffle creation and share it on social media with #WaffleDay.
WAFFLE DAY HISTORY
Christians in Sweden have most likely been celebrating the Feast of Annunciation since the 12th century. This was when Catholic missionaries Christianized the country. Swedes have been eating waffles since at least the early 1600s. Our team is still researching the exact date Swedes combined the two observances.
