Poland celebrates 'Fat Thursday'
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
07.02.2013 10:01
Poles will eat some 100 million doughnuts today to celebrate Fat Thursday, traditionally observed in the last week of 'carnival' before Lent.
photo - Wikipedia/Kpalion
This translates into more than three doughnuts, about 1, 200 calories, per average Pole. One doughnut weighs around 70 grammes and consists solely of fats and carbohydrates, hense 'Fat Thursday'.
The tradition of eating doughnuts on Fat Thursday in Poland goes back to the 17th century. The day can be described as Poland’s answer to Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day), which precedes Ash Wednesday, in many English speaking countries.
In addition to jam-filled doughnuts, known as pączki, thin strips of crispy pastry dough, known as faworki, are consumed today in large quantities.
Among bakers and confectioners, Fat Thursday is regarded as one of the busiest days of the year, with many cake shops open from the early hours of the morning after a marathon night of frying doughnuts. (mk/pg)