Dutch Pancake Day: Why do people put pancakes on their heads? Here is why

In a quirky celebration, Netherlands residents put pancakes on their heads every year, on 29 November. It is Dutch Pancake Day today. While much of the world cooks their favorite sweet, a legend tells about monks with cold heads, an angel holding a golden frying pan and a fictional Sint Pannekoek. After putting the edible hat in its place, followers of the tradition say, "We wish you a happy and blessed Saint Pancake (Sint Pannekoek)!"

Dutch Pancake Day begins with cartoon

The celebration began in 1986 after a cartoon was published by Dutch cartoonist Jan Kruis, in which a father comes home in the evening to find his family wearing pancakes on their heads. The cartoon strip reads, "Mother bakes a huge stack of pancakes and then when the man of the house comes home, everybody puts a pancake on their head and shouts: ‘Dear father, we wish you a happy and blessed Saint Pancake.'"

Cartoonist expands idea

Kruis later expanded the idea with The Gospel of Saint Pannekoek. He talked about 12th-century monks in a monastery celebrating a young monk's birthday and eating pancakes, but there is only enough for one each. He told RTV, "I want the entire royal family to stand on the steps again with a pancake on their heads. Then the goal will be achieved."

Angel descends from heaven?

According to the legend, an angel descends from heaven holding a golden frying pan and flips a pancake onto the young monk's head. The people cry and put their own pancakes on their heads. They say, "The Lord has done us a miracle! We have a saint in our midst!"


Talking about Sint Pannekoek, Henriette Louwerse, a senior lecturer in Dutch at the University of Sheffield said to Sky News, "It is totally made. I like the implicit criticism of 'the holiness of traditions."

FAQs:

How did the Dutch Pancake Day celebrations begin?
The celebration began in 1986 after a cartoon was published by Dutch cartoonist Jan Kruis, in which a father comes home in the evening to find his family wearing pancakes on their heads.

How is the Dutch Pancake Day celebrated?
A legend tells about monks with cold heads, an angel holding a golden frying pan and a fictional Sint Pannekoek. After putting the edible hat in its place, followers of the tradition say, "We wish you a happy and blessed Saint Pancake (Sint Pannekoek)!"