Dutch people are putting pancakes on their heads! Here's why
Every year on November 29, several people in the Netherlands place pancakes on their heads to commemorate an ancient tradition. Well, before this weirds you out, let us tell you that the Dutch do so to celebrate Saint Pancake (Sint Pannekoek, as they call it), which was first celebrated back in a comic series dating 1986 and has gained huge traction ever since.
The day was coined in a cartoon by Jan Kruis
This occasion, which is also popularly called Dutch Pancake Day, first came into existence in a famous comic series (later converted into a cartoon TV show) by ace cartoonist Jan Kruis. The cartoon shows a father returning home in the evening and to his surprise, he spots his entire family wearing pancakes on their heads to celebrate a fictional holiday called Sint Pannekoek.
Kruis further expanded the idea of this fictional holiday
As Sint Pannekoek gained traction across the Netherlands, Kruis further expanded and explained it in another comic named The Gospel of Saint Pannekoek. In this, he tells a story of 12th-century monks who celebrate the birthday of a young monk by savoring pancakes. A weird tradition goes that if an old Abbott feels cold, the young monk puts his pancake on the former's head.
The legend continues when an angel descends from the heavens
An angel then descends from the heavens, carrying a golden frying pan. She flips the pancake onto the young monk's head. Seeing this, other monks cry, "The Lord has done us a miracle! We've a saint in our midst!" and place pancakes on their heads.
People place pancakes on their heads and say 'Sint Pannekoek'
The popular work of fiction introduced this as a tradition and a holiday in the Netherlands, with people preparing fresh pancakes and placing them on their heads. As they position these edible hats, they say, "We wish you a happy and blessed Saint Pancake (Sint Pannekoek)!" Although it is a made-up concept, the hashtag "#sintpannekoek" was used about 250,000 times on X in 2015!
Some other traditions with pancakes from around the world
The world is witness to some other traditions and celebrations featuring pancakes. One of them is Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day which is observed by Christians. In this, people enjoy a traditional feast before the start of the Lent on Ash Wednesday. It is believed that on this day, Anglo-Saxon Christians went to confession and were "shriven" (absolved from their sins).
