Pancake Day: Not Just Another Pretty Hallmark Holiday

You've probably been hit with the deluge of press trumpeting the oncoming festivities for National Pancake Day.

No?
Maybe it's just me.

Anyway, there was a time when I made pancakes pretty regularly. From scratch. They rocked. But now, it's just me and Dawg and Cat... But just because I'm not all that into making flapjacks (really? who uses that term?) any more doesn't mean I don't recognize the magnificence of this beloved holiday.

Besides -- you can get 'em for free.
On March 1, IHOP is serving anyone who suffers through what's bound to be a long wait a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. In exchange, those lucky dogs who get to wolf down the stacks will be asked to make a donation to assigned local charities.

And just in case you think IHOP invented National Pancake Day, au contraire.

According to their press office, it's a tradition going back centuries to when folks in Britain got ready for Lenten fasting, when no dairy was allowed. Pancakes were how they used up the eggs, milk, and butter on Shrove Tuesday -- aka Pancake Tuesday. Most of my Swamp City friends know it as Fat Tuesday, the day before you get to eyeball people in suits and heels walking around downtown with black smudges on their foreheads. Of course, you're supposed to get rip-roarin' wasted on Fat Tuesday, if you're following Gulf Coast Cajun law, but the more sedate among us just eat pancakes until we're unconscious. 

Last year, IHOP served four million free pancakes on National Pancake Day 2010 and pancake lovers donated more than $2.1 million to children’s charities.

So y'all go get fattened up a little before you spend some contemplative time trying to stop clinging to attachments, and detach from a few bucks on behalf of charity while you're there.

And here she is, Miss America -- making pancakes!
 

Comments

[LC]

Sounds like I just found a way to make up for finishing off my breakfast cereal two days before payday!
Thanks for the reminder.