March 25: International Waffle Day, Annunciation

Today, on March 25, all those with a sweet tooth can join the celebration of International Waffle Day, UNN reports.

The event was launched in the Scandinavian countries and quickly became popular around the world.

In ancient Greece, flat loaves were baked by pressing them down with two plates with a beehive pattern. The plates were made of metal and connected by a hinge mechanism. In this way, liquid dough was poured onto one plate, pressed down by the other, and put on an open fire for baking.

In the Middle Ages, waffles became quite popular in Europe, with street vendors selling them in many cities.

There are more than 100 varieties of waffles in the world. In particular, Austrian waffles are soft, fluffy, and thin waffles with a juicy filling. When making English waffles, potato or oatmeal flakes are added to the dough. While still hot, the waffles are rolled into a tube and filled with various vegetable fillings and sauces.

American waffles are fluffy and soft products served with sweet or savory dishes. To make them, baking soda or baking powder is added to the dough.

Belgian waffles are familiar in two interpretations: Liège and Brussels. The former are crispy and hard rounded products baked with caramelized sugar. Brussels waffles, on the other hand, are soft and fluffy because they are made with yeast dough. They are eaten cold or hot, pre-sprinkled with powdered sugar or syrup.

Today, fans of John Tolkien's work are joining the Day of Reading his books.

The date of the unusual holiday was not chosen by chance - it was on March 28 that the creator of the ring of power, Sauron, was destroyed and his fortress Barad-dur fell.

At the initiative of the United Nations, today is the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Personnel.

The event was established in honor of UN staff member Alec Collett, who was kidnapped in the Middle East in 1985. His remains were found and identified in 2009.

Also, on the initiative of the United Nations, today is the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which is a reminder of the terrible times of the slave trade in the 16th-19th centuries.

Scholars estimate that over the 400 years of the transatlantic slave trade, about 30 million people suffered from it.

On March 25, at the suggestion of Pope John Paul II, everyone can join the Day of the Unborn Child.

The purpose of the event is to call on the international community to recognize the value of every human life, starting from the moment of conception.

It is also a day of support for organizations and initiatives that offer alternatives to abortion, giving hope and help to expectant mothers in difficult life circumstances.

According to the church calendar, today is the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

According to legend,  on this very day the Blessed Virgin Mary received the good news from the messenger of God, the Archangel Gabriel, who told her that she had conceived immaculately of the Holy Spirit and would give birth to the Son of God, who would be called Jesus Christ.

Later, an angel appeared in a dream to Mary's husband Joseph and confirmed the news of Mary's conception of the Son of God. He also gave instructions to the head of the family on how to protect the unborn child from persecution and destruction.

Mary, Joseph, and Gabriel celebrate their name days on March 25.