Did you know that for Polish people, today is a special delicious donut day? It is the Thursday before Ash Wednesday which is next Wednesday this year, and it is traditional to eat filled donuts called Paczki today. This was originally to use up all the butter and cream and jam before Lenten austerity. I am half Polish but did not know about this tradition, but fondly remembered the donuts my grandma used to get from the Polish baker.

So we went on a donut pilgrimage today to Passaic, a grimy old industrial city that once had a large Eastern European population, and still has some ethnic shops and churches. The Polish bakery was full of employees speaking Polish and yummy authentic baked goods. Since Lent is coming, I did my religious duty and ate 2 pazcki already! If there is a Polish bakery near you, be sure to look for some. Dunkin just will not do!

Sounds like a great tradition.

Personally, I don't need a religious holiday as an excuse to eat yummy, fattening baked goodies, though :)