The streets of Hamtramck will be soon be crammed with people, from near and far, all in search of something sweet, round and fat (no, not me!)... very funny! They are in search of the notorious: PACZKI! Even as I write this, the air is filled with the smell of fried dough and sugar as polish bakeries all over our city bake these things all night in order to have them ready tomorrow from 5am - 7pm! Lines will be several blocks long with people craving those polish pastries and various media (TV, Radio, Paper, etc) will pack store fronts & street-corners.
A pączek (singular name for plural: paczki) is a deep-fried piece of dough shaped into a flattened sphere and filled with plums or other sweet filling. A traditional filling is marmalade made from fried rose buds. Fresh paczki are usually covered with powdered sugar, icing or bits of fried orange zest. Pączki have been known in Poland at least since the Middle Ages.
Traditionally, the reason for making paczki has been to use up all the lard, sugar, shortening, eggs, and fruit in the house, which are forbidden during Lent (a religious time of fasting)...
Hamtramck is known to be the only U.S. city to organize an annual Paczki-Day (Fat Tuesday) Parade, and lines can be seen up to 24 hours before the deep-fried delights go on sale at the numerous local bakeries. Many bars in town open early in the morning, and provide free entertainment, a party atmosphere, and even Paczki-clad mascots. The Paczki-Day celebration in this town is even larger than many areas have for St. Patrick's Day. Here, prunes are considered the traditional filling, but many others are used as well, including lemon, strawberry, chocolate, bavarian cream, blueberry, custard, rasberry and apple. Due to French influence, paczki are eaten on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
So, what's the spiritual application? Simple: I'll be out among the people, praying the God allows me to share His authentic love (far beyond ritual or religion) with others. Yeah, I think it's a bit ridiculous to gorge oneself with fattening donuts as a way of preparing to fast... but, I won't get into that this year. I want to reach people for Christ. So, Paczki Day is Jesus Day in Hamtramck for me!
well so far this year Adam won, eating 7 of these greecy, powdered or glazed donuts that feel like bricks in your stomach! I wish I didn't eat one, but I was standing in line for 2 hours so I figured it must be worth tasting...I haven't decided?! But apple is my favorite.
Posted by: Shannon | 05 February 2008 at 04:44 PM
Response:
B- pancakes in Belfast, yummy!
e & erinjo - it's so crazy & alive around here!
Jenn- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamtramck
Posted by: Chilly | 05 February 2008 at 02:27 PM
my first paczki day. i was so excited to arrive at the bakery at 615am. new palace was packed with people and tv crew. office coworkers were thrilled.
Posted by: erinjo | 05 February 2008 at 12:55 PM
where is Hamtramck? I will be praying for ya and that you guys don't eat too many of those deep fried fruit-cakes!
Posted by: Jenn Cady | 05 February 2008 at 11:07 AM
praying for you guys!
Posted by: e | 05 February 2008 at 08:39 AM
Happy Pancake Tuesday,we celebrate it too but with Pancakes :)
Posted by: B | 05 February 2008 at 05:57 AM