Did you know that 12% of people eat pancakes more than twice a week? Whether you enjoy a stack of fluffy pancakes dripping with syrup or like to smother them in whipped cream and strawberries, there’s no denying that pancakes are a popular meal choice. Any food that is beloved by all deserves to have its own holiday.

Thankfully, a day is set aside each year for our favorite breakfast treat. National Pancake Day is celebrated multiple times throughout the year. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to honor pancakes while connecting with your social media followers.

This guide will discuss everything you need to know about National Pancake Day and how you can celebrate it on your social media accounts.

What is the history of pancakes?

Pancakes have been around since ancient Greece and Rome. They’re a food staple for many cultures. Some pancake historians believe pancakes were enjoyed as far back as the Stone Age, which occurred over 30,000 years ago.

In ancient Rome and Greece, the ingredients for pancakes were simple. They were:

  • Curdled milk
  • Honey
  • Olive oil
  • Wheat flour

Pancakes were even mentioned by famous poets and playwrights, such as William Shakespeare. The term “pancake” increased in popularity during the 15th century. Pancake became the standard term in the 19th century.

In the past, pancakes had a few different names, such as:

  • Hoecakes
  • Indian cakes
  • Johnnycakes
  • Flapjacks

Thomas Jefferson enjoyed the fluffy treat so much that he sent the White House’s special recipe back home.

Are there two National Pancake Days?

People love pancakes so much that there are two National Pancake Days each year. For 16 years, the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) has celebrated its own holiday devoted to pancakes. IHOP’s National Pancake Day 2022 took place on March 1.

IHOP Free Pancakes Day is a single-day event that happens in their restaurants. Guests can receive a free short stack of IHOP pancakes.

One significant component of IHOP’s National Pancake Day is encouraging their guests to donate to their charity partners. IHOP typically partners with children’s hospitals. They’ve raised over $30 million for children’s hospitals.

National Pancake Day also occurs on September 26. That day was first called Lumberjack Day. The creators of the holiday changed the name to honor pancakes.

What are some fun facts about pancakes I can include on social media?

Fun facts about National Pancake Day are great things to include in social media posts. You can use them to attract your followers’ interest while educating them about the food.

Some fun facts about pancakes include:

  • The most expensive pancake in the world costs $200 due to ingredients like 23-carat gold leaf and Madagascan vanilla
  • You can order Blodplätter in Sweden, which are pancakes made with pork blood
  • The world’s largest pancakes weighed almost 7,000 pounds
  • Australia, Ireland, and the UK celebrate Pancake Day as Shrove Tuesday
  • Pearl Milling Company was the first pancake mix in 1890
  • The highest pancake toss is 31 feet, one inch

How to promote National Pancake Day on social media

It’s hard to top IHOP giving free pancakes on National Pancake Day. However, there are many ways you can engage your audience on both days during the year.

Run a competition

In the past, brands have hosted competitions for National Pancake Day. You can encourage your followers to make a plate of perfect pancakes and share their photos. You can have your followers vote on the winner, or you can choose the winner at random.

Utilize the hashtag

#NationalPancakeDay and #PancakeDay trend around the holiday each year. Whether you’re posting on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, incorporate the hashtag into your posts.

Hashtags are perfect for attracting new and current followers to your page. People often search Instagram or Twitter by hashtags. More users will visit your profile if you’re using a trending hashtag.

Hashtags can also provide the following benefits:

  • Increased brand awareness
  • Providing context
  • Helping something go viral

Create a poll

You can utilize the poll feature on Twitter and Instagram. You can engage your followers by asking them to vote for different types of pancake toppings.

Share recipes

You can share your favorite pancake recipes even if you’re not a restaurant or food-based account. You can use this as an opportunity to share posts from other accounts that might have a larger following. You’ll tap into their audience while promoting their products or services.

Engage your audience with timely and interesting topics

You can engage with your social media followers throughout the year on multiple holidays. Spread knowledge about pancakes and connect with a shared love for the food on National Pancake Day. Everyone can celebrate this holiday whether you enjoy pancakes for breakfast or any time of day.

If you want to make running your social media accounts stress-free and easy, Sprout Social is here to help. Contact us and sign up for a free trial to discover how to grow your audience while decreasing your workload.

National Pancake Day FAQ

When is National Pancake Day?

You can celebrate National Pancake Day twice a year. IHOP’s National Pancake Day changes each year. It typically occurs in February or March.

You can also celebrate National Pancake Day on September 26.

Is a pancake a cake?

Some think that pancakes aren’t cakes because of their ingredients. Others believe it is a cake since it has the word in its name.

Technically, a pancake is not a cake. It’s an unleavened flatbread that gets cooked on a frying pan or griddle.

Cakes include leavening agents, such as yeast or baking powder. The leavening agents cause the cake batter to rise, giving the cake its spongy texture.

Pancakes are also thinner than most cakes. Cakes are also baked in an oven, while pancakes get cooked on a stovetop.