May 7, 2026 • 10 mins
A pair of tales about seemingly boring objects with curious pasts.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Aaron Manke's Cabinet of Curiosities, a production of
iHeartRadio and Grimm 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.
(00:36):
In twenty twenty two, archaeologists uncovered something fascinating carbonized flat
grain cakes at an Israeli site. To their delicate layers
preserved in ash dating confirmed that they were baked over
seventy thousand years ago over hot rocks, making them the
world's oldest known proto pancakes. Long before wheats was cultivated
(00:57):
on a massive scale, early humans were experimented 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
(01:19):
flipped Taganiti's 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 alita delca, 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
(01:42):
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,
(02:04):
but one of the days leading up to it, known
as Shrove Tuesday, offered a brief window to use up
perishable riches, things like 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.
(02:25):
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
(02:47):
pancake appeared under many names, hoe cakes, johnny cakes, buckwheat cakes,
griddle cakes, and flapjacks, reflecting the diverse origins of the pioneers.
These were often unleavined, made from corn meal or bucke wheat,
and cooked on a cast iron skillet or even a
farm implement repurposed as a griddle. The first truly American cookbook,
(03:08):
American Cookery, written in seventeen ninety six by Amelia Simmons,
listed two pancake recipes, a hoe cake and an Indian slapjack,
a corn meal based variation. By the early nineteenth century,
the word pancake began to dominate the lexicon, and dairy
entered the batter in earnest as milk and cream replaced
(03:28):
brandy or wine, signaling improved agricultural yields 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 nineteen thirties allowed families to whip up
a stack in minutes and was perfect for factory workers.
(03:49):
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 crapes,
paper thin, rolled with sweet or savory fillings became a
hallmark of culinary elegance. Russia's bleamy, traditionally served with caviar
(04:10):
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
(04:30):
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
(04:51):
States raise millions for children's hospitals, proving that the pancake
can still serve a higher purpose beyond the plate. From
a sevent one year old grain cake baked on a
stone to glossy stacks drizzled with maple syrup on a
Saturday morning, the pancakes journey mirrors humanity's own, its core
components of staid, constant, while the ingredients, technology, and cultural
(05:14):
meaning have shifted with each era and culture. The pancake
has been a survival food for prehistoric hunters, 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. Take a moment
(05:49):
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. If it's a little knickknack
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
(06:10):
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
(06:32):
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 Ama Terasu, and others are household objects that have
(06:55):
been allowed to grow old the exact amount of time
required is vague. Most say one hundred years, some say less.
But once enough time has passed, an item will become
a tsuku mogami, a haunted object. Tsuko mogami 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,
(07:19):
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 tsuko mogami
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.
(07:40):
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. Eighteenth century art of these sorts
(08:01):
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 tsukomogami stories we have are from the year eleven twenty.
They tell of household objects getting possessed by demons and spirits.
(08:21):
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 tsukomogami, 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 fifteenth century, and
(08:42):
exploded in popularity throughout the sixteenth and seventeen 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 world wilderness, like foxes or raccoon dogs,
(09:02):
were once ssukomogami, who left their original homes and became
woodland spirits. Other ssukomogami, though refused 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 clear. Treat your household items with
(09:23):
respect and they will not grow to resent you. There's
more to being a responsible homeowner than keeping your family fit. Apparently,
you must also show care and respect to the home itself. Nowadays,
you'll find plenty of references to Ssukomogami in Japanese entertainment,
from anime to manga and everything in between, but be
careful never to forget the lesson of the original folk tale.
(09:46):
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
(10:11):
through the Cabinet of Curiosities. This show was created by
me Aaron Mankey 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 at Grimandmild dot com slash Curiosities.
You'll also find a link to the official Cabinet of
Curiosity's hardcover book, available in bookstores and online, as well
(10:35):
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 for a small monthly fee.
Learn more and sign up over at patreon dot com
slash Grimandmild, and until next time, stay curious.
Welcome to Aaron Manke's Cabinet of Curiosities, a production of
iHeartRadio and Grimm 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.
(00:36):
In twenty twenty two, archaeologists uncovered something fascinating carbonized flat
grain cakes at an Israeli site. To their delicate layers
preserved in ash dating confirmed that they were baked over
seventy thousand years ago over hot rocks, making them the
world's oldest known proto pancakes. Long before wheats was cultivated
(00:57):
on a massive scale, early humans were experimented 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
(01:19):
flipped Taganiti's 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 alita delca, 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
(01:42):
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,
(02:04):
but one of the days leading up to it, known
as Shrove Tuesday, offered a brief window to use up
perishable riches, things like 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.
(02:25):
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
(02:47):
pancake appeared under many names, hoe cakes, johnny cakes, buckwheat cakes,
griddle cakes, and flapjacks, reflecting the diverse origins of the pioneers.
These were often unleavined, made from corn meal or bucke wheat,
and cooked on a cast iron skillet or even a
farm implement repurposed as a griddle. The first truly American cookbook,
(03:08):
American Cookery, written in seventeen ninety six by Amelia Simmons,
listed two pancake recipes, a hoe cake and an Indian slapjack,
a corn meal based variation. By the early nineteenth century,
the word pancake began to dominate the lexicon, and dairy
entered the batter in earnest as milk and cream replaced
(03:28):
brandy or wine, signaling improved agricultural yields 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 nineteen thirties allowed families to whip up
a stack in minutes and was perfect for factory workers.
(03:49):
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 crapes,
paper thin, rolled with sweet or savory fillings became a
hallmark of culinary elegance. Russia's bleamy, traditionally served with caviar
(04:10):
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
(04:30):
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
(04:51):
States raise millions for children's hospitals, proving that the pancake
can still serve a higher purpose beyond the plate. From
a sevent one year old grain cake baked on a
stone to glossy stacks drizzled with maple syrup on a
Saturday morning, the pancakes journey mirrors humanity's own, its core
components of staid, constant, while the ingredients, technology, and cultural
(05:14):
meaning have shifted with each era and culture. The pancake
has been a survival food for prehistoric hunters, 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. Take a moment
(05:49):
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. If it's a little knickknack
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
(06:10):
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
(06:32):
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 Ama Terasu, and others are household objects that have
(06:55):
been allowed to grow old the exact amount of time
required is vague. Most say one hundred years, some say less.
But once enough time has passed, an item will become
a tsuku mogami, a haunted object. Tsuko mogami 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,
(07:19):
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 tsuko mogami
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.
(07:40):
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. Eighteenth century art of these sorts
(08:01):
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 tsukomogami stories we have are from the year eleven twenty.
They tell of household objects getting possessed by demons and spirits.
(08:21):
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 tsukomogami, 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 fifteenth century, and
(08:42):
exploded in popularity throughout the sixteenth and seventeen 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 world wilderness, like foxes or raccoon dogs,
(09:02):
were once ssukomogami, who left their original homes and became
woodland spirits. Other ssukomogami, though refused 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 clear. Treat your household items with
(09:23):
respect and they will not grow to resent you. There's
more to being a responsible homeowner than keeping your family fit. Apparently,
you must also show care and respect to the home itself. Nowadays,
you'll find plenty of references to Ssukomogami in Japanese entertainment,
from anime to manga and everything in between, but be
careful never to forget the lesson of the original folk tale.
(09:46):
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
(10:11):
through the Cabinet of Curiosities. This show was created by
me Aaron Mankey 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 at Grimandmild dot com slash Curiosities.
You'll also find a link to the official Cabinet of
Curiosity's hardcover book, available in bookstores and online, as well
(10:35):
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 for a small monthly fee.
Learn more and sign up over at patreon dot com
slash Grimandmild, and until next time, stay curious.
Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities News
Host
Aaron Mahnke
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