Happy Paczki Day

[packman]

"pączki are eaten especially on Fat Tuesday (Tłusty Czwartek), the last Tuesday prior to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.[13] The traditional reason for making pączki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because their consumption was forbidden by Catholic fasting practices during Lent.

In North America, particularly the large Polish community of Chicago, Detroit, and other large cities across the Midwest, Paczki Day is celebrated annually by immigrants and locals alike. The date of this observance merges with that of pre-Lenten traditions of other immigrants (e.g., Pancake Day, Mardi Gras) on Fat Tuesday. With its sizable Polish population, Chicago celebrates the festival on both Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday; pączki are also often eaten on Casimir Pulaski Day. In Buffalo, Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, South Bend, and Windsor, Pączki Day is celebrated on Fat Tuesday"




Growing up in SW Pennsylvania, my father would go to the local Slovak church on Paczki Day and come home with these unforgettable rich fried bits of delight filled with homemade jams or custards that you would kill for - still can remember the taste of them. A bit like the cream-filled donuts you might get from Krispy Crème, but still lacking the unique taste those old ladies imparted into their home made Paczkis

[jakeXT]

1. What a difference a letter makes, initially I thought of packages

paczki {f pl} (also: opakowania, pakunki, pakiety, zestawy)
packages {pl}
http://en.bab.la/dictionary/polish-english/paczki

pączek {m} [gastro.]
doughnut {noun} [gastro.]
http://en.bab.la/dictionary/polish-english/p%C4%85czek


It's a New Year's tradition in Germany

Last but not least, at least in North Germany the first food most people consume right after the clock strikes twelve is a Berliner, i.e. a yeast dough pastry fried in fat, filled with jam, and covered with powdered sugar or icing. On the 31st December you have to make sure to get to your favorite bakery before noon if you want to score fresh Berliner for your Silvester celebration. Some even pre-order them weeks in advance to make sure that they get exactly the flavors that they prefer. Trust me, it’s not an easy choice – there’s everything from classic fillings of red berries, apples, or plums, to more exotic combinations of vanilla cream or egg liquor.

http://www.letthejourneybegin.eu/new-year-germany-berliner/

[pinboy3niner]

2. There are lots of different fried dough treats connected with various holidays

I helped make one when I was staying with friends for Christmas years ago. It was one that goes by several names, all of which I forget, but it features currants in the dough.