Newswise — Most people are familiar with Mardi Gras, but, in many places, the Polish tradition of Paczki Day is taking hold as well.
The concept is similar to Mardi Gras -- a bit of indulgence before the austerity of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Paczki (pronounced "POONCH-key" ) are rich jelly doughnuts that were originally made to clear out lard and other rich ingredients from the pantry to prepare for the more bland Lenten fare. What began as a tradition in urban Polish enclaves has spread across the country. Now, bakeries all over carry the sweet treats.
This year, Paczki Day falls on Feb. 8. Grand Valley State University Russian professor Christine Rydel is of Polish descent and an expert source for questions on Polish culture. She is available to explain the paczki phenomenon.
Grand Valley State University is a four-year public university in Michigan. It attracts more than 22,000 students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley is the comprehensive regional university for the state's second largest metropolitan area and offers 68 undergraduate and 23 graduate degree programs. It has campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids, and Holland and centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships. Grand Valley employs more than 1,700 people and is committed to providing a fair and equitable environment for the continued success of all.
RSS