Today in Poland we celebrate one of the sweetest traditions of the year – Tłusty Czwartek (Fat Thursday)!

It marks the last Thursday before Lent, a time when traditionally people would use up rich ingredients like sugar, eggs, butter and lard before the fasting season began. And what better way to do that than by frying delicious, golden pączki?

🍩 Why do Poles eat pączki?

Pączki are deep-fried doughnuts filled with rose jam, plum preserve, custard, or other sweet fillings, and topped with icing or powdered sugar.

There is even a popular saying in Poland that eating at least one pączek on Fat Thursday brings good luck for the year ahead! Not eating one? That might bring bad luck… so we don’t take the risk 😉

Traditionally, people would eat as many pączki as possible on this day – because once Lent begins, indulgence gives way to reflection and moderation.

Today bakeries across Poland (and Polish communities around the world 🇵🇱) sell millions of pączki in just one day.

So wherever you are – have a pączek, celebrate Polish tradition, and enjoy the sweetness of the day!

Smacznego! 🍩✨

Text : Polish Sue