Today, August 24th, is National Waffle Day. And on this day, I’d like to offer a mea culpa to the Iranian student who lived with me 12 years ago. He came down to the kitchen one morning and said, “Hey, everyone! It’s National Waffle Day! I heard it on the radio!” Upon hearing this I slammed down my (ideally) strawberry Instant Breakfast and said, “There’s no such THING as National Waffle Day, Pouyan! That’s so DUMB.” And then I took my Pre-Calculus book (honors), went out the door and failed my test. I was really bad at pre-calc. Just like I was bad at acknowledging breakfast-related national days of note.
National Waffle Day (August 24) is the anniversary of the first U.S. patent for a waffle iron. Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York received his patent for a “device to bake waffles” in 1869. His early waffle iron was used in conjunction with coal stoves, consisted of a griddle and a cover and required flipping of the device to cook both sides of the waffle. At present, National Waffle Day is at best a “bizarre” or “unique” holiday” – the fluff stuff of radio DJ commentary. Waffle promotions at some restaurant chains have helped to keep the holiday alive, if only barely.
First: Cornelius Swarthout. What happened to rad names like that? My first born, boy or girl, shall be named Cornelius Swarthout. Mark my words, here on this blog, on this National Day of Waffles.
Second: National Waffle Day is not the “fluff stuff of radio DJ commentary.” It was very important to the assimilation of an Iranian student, in that he discovered the bitchiness of 16 year old American girls.
So, thank you, National Waffle Day. You are far more absorbent and compartmentalized and helpful than your sister holiday, National Pancake Day.
And in honor of this trip to the past, I’d like to make a joke that would have been relevant, if not funny, 6 years ago: National Waffle Day? More like National John Kerry Day!!!!
