Today is one of the greatest holidays of all the holidays…National
Pancake Day. That’s right, folks, it’s the day when eating pancakes is not
just delicious, but celebratory. And while, I’ve mentioned I’m not much of a
breakfast in the morning type of person, I am a staunch supporter of breakfast
foods for dinner.
And who can really turn their nose up at pancakes?
Pretty much no one in the history of humanity. Which is
probably why pancakes were one of the most common cereal-type foods of
prehistoric society.* That’s right folks, those guys gave us the wheel, the
application of fire AND pancakes. Kind of makes all our accomplishments pale a
little in comparison, doesn’t it?
And, I for one, find pancakes much more impressive than
sliced bread, so that saying’s going to change.
I mean, imagine if someone said to you, “You’re the best
thing since pancakes.” How flattered would you be? I’d be pretty damn
flattered.
Pancakes also show up in folklore. From Norway and Germany, we get
pancakes, with penchant for rhyming and alliteration, respectively, on the run.
One of the German pancakes is actually quite the philanthropist, willingly
sacrificing itself for some starving orphans.
Russia
offers us a cautionary tale of greed and a magic handmill which can provide a
never-ending supply of pancakes. Who wouldn’t be greedy in the face of such
treasure? And then there’s the one about the gossip and the pancake
tree. The classic and heart-warming tale of a man, his treasure, and his efforts to make his wife appear insane.
This phenomenal breakfast food can even give you a heads up
on whether or not you’re going to get married – provided you have some
livestock. Just throw a short stack to the rooster. If he calls the hens over before
eating, you’re as good as hitched. If not, you’ll still be able to get up and
dance when Beyonce calls for all the single ladies (or gents). If you think it’s
unfair that a greedy rooster can determine your relationship status, I suggest
you stop throwing him flapjacks and invite other people over for your breakfast
feast.
Now, I need to go pick up batter for tonight’s pancake
dinner. And, of course, locate my pancake
molds.
Wishing you the most wonderful of National Pancake Days! May
pancakes waft from the sky to your plate, a la Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs before the climate change.
* Check out the Oxford
Companion to Food (1999) or Martin Jones’ Feast: Why Humans Share Food (2008). You’ll look all sorts of
educated, whilst in your mind screaming “PANCAKES, PANCAKES, PANCAKES.” At
least, that’s what is generally going through my head when I read non-fiction.
Regardless of the relevancy.
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