Why do hotels call it continental breakfast?

When I was a kid I heard about the continental breakfast at the hotel we were staying at. I thought this was going to be a huge breakfast of plate tectonic proportions. Rivers of sausage gravy, bacon trays falling over like waterfalls, mountains of biscuits, and piles of scrambled eggs thick like a Tempurpedic mattress.

To my dismay, I was greeted with a tray of donuts, danishes, cereal, juice, and coffee. I guess this is food that's available on every continent and not continental in size.

We are partial to Hilton brand hotels. We enjoy the free breakfast at the Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites takes it up a notch. Although not free, Hilton Garden Inn has a great buffet and it's what I imagined as a child. If you really want to eat like a King of a Continental, then stay at Embassy Suites.