While many nations celebrated Pancake Day earlier this year, the Netherlands likes to do things a little differently.
Families in certain parts of the country participate in a fun celebration to commemorate Sint Pannekoek (Saint Pancake) every November.
However, rather than smothering their pancakes with tasty toppings, Dutch people also handle their pancakes in a very unique way.
November 29 marks an unofficial Dutch Pancake Day, and many people celebrate by placing a pancake on their heads.
Happy Sint Pannekoek 🎊 pic.twitter.com/NP6R9bUHF6
— H&K (@klusjeshenk) November 29, 2023
Social media is already full of images of beaming Dutch families sitting with pancakes on their heads.
So, where did this tradition come from? Here's everything we know.
Why do Dutch people put pancakes on their heads?
Voor alle Opa’s: het is wel Sint Pannekoek vandaag! pic.twitter.com/OhSA7pIyto
— Étienne Le Kerbec🇪🇺6💉@lekerbec.bsky.social (@LeKerbec) November 29, 2023
The Dutch tradition of putting pancakes on their heads actually originated from a cartoon strip.
In 1986, a cartoonist called Jan Kruis published a cartoon that featured a Dutch family sitting around the dinner table with pancakes on their heads.
The cartoon explained that November 29 is Pancake Day and as well as eating them, people should put the pancakes on their heads.
“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.'” the strip reads.
“I love old traditions!” another character then announces.
The cartoonist reportedly also came up with the idea of Sint Pannekoek, a made-up figure that people are meant to celebrate on that day.
While the cartoon strip refers to a fake tradition, it interestingly became somewhat of a real one in recent years.
Kruis said he hoped the Dutch royal family would also get involved.
"I want the entire royal family to stand on the steps again with a pancake on their heads. Then the goal will be achieved," he said, according to Dutch outlet RTV.
How do people celebrate Dutch Pancake Day?
Homes and restaurants, mainly around Rotterdam and Groningen, will mark the special pancake tradition.
As well as placing a pancake on their head, many people will share images of the bizarre trend on social media.
When is Pancake Day elsewhere in the world?
Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is traditionally celebrated on the day before the beginning of Lent in many Christian cultures. The date varies each year because it is determined by the date of Easter, which is a movable feast.
In 2023, Pancake Day fell on Tuesday, February 28th. Bear in mind that this date can change from year to year, so it's always a good idea to check a current calendar or online resource for the exact date in any given year.
