Happy Groundhog's, Valentine's, & Presidents' Day! WHEW! I think I covered them all for this month. Well, the major ones anyway. And, a very Happy Birthday to whomever celebrates theirs this month.
Another "Holiday" I will be celebrating is Paczki Day on February 21st. The easiest pronunciation I can give you is-"punchki", but it sounds like the "pu" in pudding. Polish has some weird diacritical marks that really change the sounds of letters.
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| New Palace Bakery in Hamtramck |
Paczki Day is the Polish version of Fat Tuesday; the Tuesday right before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally it was a day to get rid of all the goodies in the house that you weren't allowed to have during Lent. Such "goodies" as sugar & lard were mixed with flour & other ingredients to make the dough. When the pastries were done, they were filled with all different kinds of jelly, cream, or custard.
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| Martha Washington Bakery in Hamtramck |
Today's typical "jelly donut" is not a "real" paczki. The "real" paczki are only made just prior to Ash Wednesday & usually have more fattening ingredients added to them. I believe each one has about 1000 calories in it. It doesn't really matter though, because Ash Wednesday is a day of fast anyway.
On Paczki Day in Hamtramck, a lot of bars open early (about 7 am) & people party all day long to celebrate before Lent begins. Bands play all day & radio stations broadcast from some of the bars. The bakeries have lines that go around the block starting at 6 am or earlier. The local news stations usually do interviews from a bakery or two. Our 2.2 square mile city is wild & crazy & EVERYONE IS POLISH for a day!!!
For the first time in my working life, I have Paczki Day off! I don't drink, but I'm sure I'll be out to get a paczki or two!
I wish you all a Happy February & I wave my Babcia's babushka in salute! Nasdrowie! (to your health)
Collette
