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- [00:00]
Podcast Host
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
- [00:04]
American Public University Sponsor
This show is sponsored by American Public University. The future won't wait and neither should you. That's why American Public University offers Master's programs designed for momentum, affordable, high quality and flexible. So you keep moving forward with career relevant programs in business, healthcare, education, it and more. You can gain skills you can use right away and and the confidence to power your next move. American Public University made for what's next. Learn more at apu Apus. Edu.
- [00:39]
Erin Menke
Welcome to Erin Menke's Cabinet of Curiosities, a production of iHeartRadio and Grim and mild. Our world is full of the unexplainable. And if history is an open book, all of these amazing tales are right there on display, just waiting for us to explore. Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosities. In 2022, archaeologists uncovered something fascinating carbonized flat grain cakes at an Israeli site, their delicate layers preserved in ash. Dating confirmed that they were baked over 70,000 years ago over hot rocks, making them the world's oldest known proto pancakes. Long before wheat was cultivated on a massive scale, early humans were experimenting with porridges and batter like mixtures, turning simple grains into a quick, portable meal. That humble beginning set the stage for a food that would travel across continents, survive wars, and become a breakfast ritual for billions. Fast forward a few thousand years to the sunny streets of ancient Greece, where vendors flipped taganites, thin wheat flour cakes cooked on bronze griddles. These were not merely sustenance, though. They were part of festivals and communal gatherings. And the Romans continued the tradition with Alida dulcia, which were sweetened with honey, cheese and sometimes even fruit. And in both cultures, the pancake, like food, occupied a dual role. An everyday snack for laborers and a ceremonial offering for the gods. The basic formula of it all, a liquid, some flour and some heat, proved remarkably adaptable. A culinary canvas that could be dressed up or stripped down, depending on the occasion. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the pancake acquired new layers of meaning. No pun intended, I swear. The season of Lent demanded fasting, but one of the days leading up to it, known as Shrove Tuesday, offered a brief window to use up perishable riches. Things like a eggs, butter and milk. In England, families gathered around a hearth, battering together a simple mixture and racing to flip it before the fire burned it out. And so naturally, the day became known colloquially as Pancake Day, a tradition that still persists in Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In France and part of the United States, the same feast is called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, underscoring how a practical need to avoid waste evolved into a festival ritual. Across the Atlantic, settlers brought their own versions of the flat cake. In the American colonies, the pancake appeared under many names. Hoecakes, johnny cakes, buckwheat cakes, griddle cakes and flapjacks, reflecting the diverse origins of the pioneers. These were often unleavened, made from cornmeal or buckwheat and cooked on a cast iron skillet or even a farm implement, repurposed as a griddle. The first truly American cookbook, American cookery, written in 1796 by Amelia Simmons, listed two pancake, a hoecake and an Indian slapjack, a cornmeal based variation. By the early 19th century, the word pancake began to dominate the lexicon and dairy entered the batter in earnest as milk and cream replaced brandy or wine, signaling improved agricultural yields and and a shift toward richer flavors. Industrialization transformed the pancake from a homestead staple into a mass produced convenience. The advent of powdered mixes in the 1930s allowed families to whip up a stack in minutes and was perfect for factory workers. The cheap, quick breakfast became a symbol of comfort during the Great Depression and World War II when rationing made elaborate meals nearly impossible. And meanwhile, back in France, delicate crepes, paper thin, rolled with sweet or savory fillings became a hallmark of culinary elegance. Russia's blini, traditionally served with caviar and sour cream, was eaten on the Orthodox celebration of Maslenitas, a week long festival bidding farewell to winter. And in my wife's own Swedish background, we have Swedish pancakes, something that's a staple of our holiday celebrations every single year. These global variations prove that the pancake's appeal is not confined to any single culture. It's a universal language of simple, adaptable nourishment. In recent decades, the pancake has experienced a renaissance among food artisans and nostalgic chefs. Heritage grain revivals have brought buckwheat, sorghum and millet back to the griddle. And charitable events like National Pancake Day in the United States raise millions for children's hospitals, proving that the pancake can still serve a higher purpose beyond the plate. From a 70,000 year old grain cake baked on a stone to glossy stacks drizzled with maple syrup on a Saturday morning, the pancake's journey mirrors humanity's own. Its core components have stayed constant while the ingredients, technology and cultural meaning have shifted with each era and culture. The pancake has been a survival food for prehistoric hunters and a sacramental offering for Greeks and Romans. And a frontier staple for Americans. Whenever we hear the familiar hiss of batter meeting a hot pan, we're really listening to a sizzle that has spanned thousands of years of human history.
- [06:18]
American Public University Sponsor
This show is sponsored by American Public University. The future won't wait and neither should you. That's why American Public University offers Master's programs designed for momentum, affordable, high quality and flexible. So you keep moving forward with career relevant programs in business, healthcare, education, it and more. You can gain skills you can use right away and the confidence to power your next move. American Public University made for what's next. Learn more at apu. Apus.
- [06:47]
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- [07:26]
Erin Menke
Take a moment to look around yourself right now. No matter where you are in your apartment, car, office, or even going for a walk, odds are you aren't far from an object that means something to you. Perhaps it's a little knick knack that reminds you of an important person or time in your life. Or maybe it's something you use every day, a tool or an article of clothing in the stage play of your life. These things are important props. They have some sort of utility or meaning to you. Some might even last long enough to become a beloved family keepsake which is passed on to your children and maybe even your grandchildren. You may see where I'm going with this. Once an object is old enough, it feels like it gains a weight and importance of its own. Maybe you felt this while going through the possessions of a deceased relative, but in Japanese folklore, you must be wary of items that have been around for this long, because that object might have more than just memories attached to it. In the Japanese Shinto religion, spirits known as kami influence the world around us. Some are as great as the sun God Amaterasu, and others are household objects that have been allowed to grow old. The exact amount of time required is Vague. Most say 100 years, some say less. But once enough time has passed, an item will become a tsukumogami, a haunted object. Tsukumogami are born out of all kinds of things too. Sandals, furniture, pots and dishes. Some of the most popular stories feature haunted umbrellas, saddles kimonos and teapots, a stirrup that a soldier died in, or a pot that has been chipped and cracked over many, many years. And although it's said that some tsukomogami are benign, most of these stories feature objects that are not happy with the way they've been treated. The word, when spelled out in kanji script, literally means grief inflicting God. For instance, that stirrup that the soldier died in becomes a creature that eternally waits for the return of its master. Broken pots and pans wait to be repaired. In fact, it's the forgotten and neglected objects that seem to have the most potency as spirits like haunted houses. On a much, much smaller scale, 18th century art of these sorts of kami depicts a long abandoned futon dragging itself across the floor, gathering forgotten pots and pans as it goes. The assembled creature was called the Crockery General. Now, the earliest Tsukamogami stories we have are from the year 1120. They tell of household objects getting possessed by demons and spirits. One particularly grim story tells of an oil pot that kills a sick girl. But these stories of possession would eventually give way to the more classical tsukumogami, where the object isn't possessed so much as it's gained a life and perspective of its own. These stories started appearing as popular entertainment and folklore in the late 15th century and exploded in popularity throughout the 16th and 17th, well into the Edo period. And what these beings do once they've come to life varies from story to story. Some merely flee your house out into the wild, seeking a home where they won't be mistreated or neglected. In fact, some creatures in the wilderness, like foxes or raccoon dogs, were once tsukumogami who left their original homes and became woodland spirits. Other tsukumogami, though, refuse to leave their homes. They instead turn on their owners in revenge for their disuse. This revenge seems to be fairly harmless, though it usually comes in the form of pranks. But the moral of the story is pretty Treat your household items with respect, and they will not grow to resent you. There's more to being a responsible homeowner than keeping your family fed. Apparently, you must also show care and respect to the home itself. Nowadays, you'll find plenty of references to tsukumogami in Japanese entertainment, from anime to manga and everything in between. But be careful never to forget the lesson of the original folktale. As Madonna once said, we live in a material world. Our possessions bring joy to us. They make household tasks easier and fill a home with purpose, but acquiring such an object also comes with a responsibility. Either way, though, it certainly gives a whole new meaning to the common phrase prized possession. I hope you enjoyed today's guided tour through the Cabinet of Curiosities. This show was created by me, Erin Manke, in partnership with iHeart Podcasts, researched and written by the Grim and Mild team and produced by Jesse Funk. Learn more about the show and the people who make it over@grimandmild.com curiosities. You'll also find a link to the official Cabinet of Curiosities hardcover book available in bookstores and online, as well as ebook and audiobook. And if you're looking for an ad free option, consider joining our Patreon. It's all the same stories but without the interruption, a small monthly fee. Learn more and sign up over@patreon.com grimandmild and until next time, stay curious.
- [12:33]
American Public University Sponsor
This show is sponsored by American Public University. The future won't wait and neither should you. That's why American Public University offers Master's programs designed for momentum, affordable, high quality and flexible so you keep moving forward. With career relevant programs in business, healthcare, education, it and more. You can gain skills you can use right away and the confidence to power your next move. American Public University made for what's next. Learn more at Apu Apus. Edu.
- [13:04]
Podcast Host
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.