Food & Drink
4 Tips for Celebrating Sweden’s Waffle Day in the U.S.
The writers at Umgås believe all carb-fueled holidays deserve an international celebration.
That said, grab your favorite jam and elastic waistband pants because Saturday, March 25 is Waffle Day in Sweden – and we’re showing you how to celebrate wherever you are.
But, first a primer: What’s Waffle Day?
In an interview for a story last year, American Swedish Institute President and CEO Bruce Karstadt told us the tradition started because of “dialect corruptions” hundreds of years ago with Our Lady’s Day, a day celebrating the Virgin Mary’s Annunciation.
He told us: “How does Mary’s pregnancy become associated with waffles? It’s because of a mispronunciation of the date. It was long called Our Lady’s Day, which was called ‘Vårfrudagen’ in Swedish. When people from Northern Sweden pronounced it, it came across as ‘Vår Fru’ which is the old Swedish word for waffle, and it eventually became Våffeldagen. That’s somewhat how it happened.”
Need tips for celebrating Våffeldagen, err Waffle Day? We have ‘em!
- It’s all about the heart-shaped waffle: Don’t be square. Swedish waffles are heart-shaped. Try this Euro Cuisine heart-shaped waffle maker on Amazon for a relatively cheap ($27.60) option. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, there’s a good chance you can get one-day or same-day shipping.
- Consistency is key: Swedish waffles have a thinner consistency than traditional American waffles, and are eaten for snacks and dessert. We love this recipe from SwedishFreak.com.
- Skip the syrup: Instead of syrup, dollop your waffles with jam, such as lingonberry or strawberry, and whipped cream.
- Invite friends: No one wants to celebrate Waffle Day alone. Invite your closest friends, and dig in!
Are you planning to celebrate Waffle Day? Send us pics from your celebration at umgasmagazine@gmail.com.
