Paczki Day brings Chicagoans together for one last indulgence before Lent

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

For many Poles, both in the U.S. and beyond, Paczki Day is the kickoff to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and prayer that Catholics and many other Christians in liturgical traditions observe leading up to Easter.
But one needn’t be religious to enjoy a paczek.

“Some people have waning beliefs on their religion, but even if you’re not, you know, 100% Catholic, you’re still 100% Polish Roman Catholic because everything in Polish tradition and the holidays is revolving around the church,” said Bartlomiej Kolatek, general manager of Kolatek’s Bakery on the Northwest Side of Chicago.

In the U.S., Paczki Day comes on what others may call Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, a day some celebrate by eating pancakes.
The idea is the same: To feast before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday — and maybe to use up some of those tempting foods in the cupboards, like sugar and butter and alcohol.

No less than six of the paczki available this week at Kolatek’s Bakery include fillings flavored with alcohol, including rum and an egg liqueur called advocaat.

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2020/02/25/packzi-day-brings-chicagoans-together-before-lent-begins/

[jimfields33]

1. Nice celebration

It’s funny but I could go days not eating meat, but Fridays during lent is the times I crave it so much. Isn’t that weird and ridiculous?

[guillaumeb]

2. The forbidden?

Understood.

[MaryMagdaline]

3. Learned about Paczki Day from cousins in Detroit

I wonder if KFC's donut giveaway was a nod to Fat Tuesday

[guillaumeb]

4. Possibly.

Lent is still a big event in areas with a lot of Catholics.

[frazzled]

5. It's a big deal here

because of the huge Polish population. I wish I liked jelly donuts better, but maybe I'll pick up one of the ones filled with plum butter (lekvar, as my Hungarian grandmother used to call it).

In related ethnic/holiday news: I was alarmed to realize that our primary is occurring on March 17—St. Patrick's Day, the other widely celebrated Chicago holiday for which the Chicago River is dyed green, throngs of dead-drunk people crowd the streets in ridiculous green garb, and you have to be careful to avoid stepping in vomit. I hope the festivities occur mostly on the weekend before, because the thought of hundreds of thousands of Chicago Democrats drunk voting is kind of unbearable.

PS: it's pronounced sort of as "pownch-key"

[guillaumeb]

6. Try the strawberry and fresh whipping cream.

I believe that the official parade is the Saturday prior to election day.

[frazzled]

7. Believe it or not

I don't like whipping cream! (I know, I know; but if some ever arrives on top of my dish, I always scoop it up and give it to my husband.)

[guillaumeb]

8. My wife and I both agree that whipping cream is a valuable food group.

Our cat also agrees.

[frazzled]

9. My husband and cat (may she rest in peace) also thought so

I am apparently the outlier: even as a kid, I removed or gave away the whipping cream on top of my hot fudge sundae.