WHY is breakfast in European hotels called "continental"?

That's what British travelers called it back in the 19th century.

Many European hotels in the price includes a so-called continental breakfast: coffee, juice, pastries and butter and jam.

The name "continental" was coined by the British in the 19th century, who came from the islands to the territory of continental Europe (and called this part of the world simply "continent") for leisure or business, stayed in hotels and in guest houses and received there this simple and light snack as an alternative to the usual "heavy" beans, eggs and bacon for the English.

Later this idea was picked up by American hotels and motels: they needed something to counteract the stomach-heavy, caloric local cuisine, and in the 20th century many roadside neon signs advertised: "Continental breakfast".