Fat Tuesday traditions in Illinois
Float riders toss trinkets at the Krewe of Cleopatra Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. Mardi Gras season is kicking into high gear with a slew of major parades throughout New Orleans. Although Carnival season officially began Jan. 6, the festivities really kick into high gear the two weekends ahead of Fat Tuesday. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
Every Fat Tuesday, thousands of people across Illinois line up at bakeries and grocery stores for the famous Polish pastries known as “paczki." Paczki Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday and Mardi Gras is a day of indulgence among Catholics, preceding a day of fasting, known as Ash Wednesday, which marks the first official day of Lent. In Poland, the sweet filled doughnuts are traditionally eaten on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, commonly known as Fat Thursday. Western Christian tradition also has people celebrating carnival season in the months leading up to lent where another sweet, “King Cake” is savored from the Feast of the Epiphany — on January 6th — through today, but never after.
In Illinois, the fourth most Polish state in the U.S. and Chicago, with the highest percentage of its population being Polish, the fluffy-cloud like pastries sometimes make a reappearance for Casimir Pulaski Day on the first Monday in March. We talked about the pastries and the traditions that come with them with two Central Illinois bakers.
GUESTS:
Jeffrey Brokish
Owner of Central Illinois Bakehouse
Anastasia Pennington-Flax
Head Chef, Dancing Dog Eatery
Have you gotten your paczki yet? https://t.co/cMJxGxoBlP
— Eater Chicago (@eaterchicago) March 1, 2022
Prepared for web by Owen Henderson
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