March 8, 2024
I’ve always loved waffles. Apparently, I’m not the only one. In Scandinavia people loved eating waffles so much that they invented a special holiday just to celebrate those crispy, golden pastries.
Waffle Day is celebrated on March 25, which is also the Feast of the Annunciation. Traditionally, waffles were eaten on this day. Gradually, the holiday lost its religious connotations. Nowadays folks in Scandinavia eat waffles all year round, but especially on Waffle Day.
Scandinavians, unlike Americans, usually don’t eat waffles for breakfast. They eat them at other times of the day as a snack. In Norway, folks often make a batch of waffles to serve when friends drop by for a visit. Children may make waffles as an after-school snack. My Norwegian grandmother made waffles to take along on picnics or camping trips.
In America, waffles are most often served with maple syrup, but folks in Norway, Sweden and Denmark top their waffles with jellies or preserves. The jam is frequently lingonberry, but my grandmother topped hers with homemade strawberry jelly. Whipping cream and fresh berries are other popular toppings in Scandinavia.
Norwegians, who love brown goat cheese, even put slices of cheese on top of the jam on their waffles. My grandfather, who was Swedish, liked to spread waffles with butter and then sprinkle sugar on top. Some Scandinavians even put Nutella on their waffles.
As you can see, there are lots of ways to enjoy waffles. There is, however, one no-no concerning waffles. Scandinavians never use a knife and fork to eat waffles. According to them, waffles are meant to be folded and eaten with your fingers – just like any other snack food.
Scandinavians eat heart-shaped waffles which require a special waffle iron. These irons make thinner and crisper waffles than the American style. European-style waffle irons are available from Amazon. If you’re not a purist, any waffle iron will work. Even if you don’t want to cook, your local Waffle House restaurant is always an option.
One of the best ways to create a link to our ancestors is to do something that they would have done. Eating some of the foods they enjoyed is an easy way to do this. With Waffle Day coming up in a couple of weeks, now is a good time to eat like a Scandinavian. For Waffle Day, you won’t even have to try yucky-tasting foods like lutefisk or pickled herring to get the authentic experience.
Even if your ancestors were not Scandinavian, you can still celebrate Waffle Day. Eating waffles is worth celebrating, no matter where your ancestors came from!
Carol Stetser
Researcher
Larimer County Genealogical Society