Yesterday was Fat Tuesday and even people who do not practice lent will indulge in one of Chicagoland’s favorite pastries Pazcki’s (punch-key) on this day. They are in every grocery store and bakery in the area and they even put out a list on the local village boards of the different bakeries in the south suburbs who are going to have extended hours for people to come and get their Fat Tuesday treats.

Paczki for those of you who don’t know are very rich donuts, deep-fried and then filled with fruit or cream filling and covered with powdered sugar or icing. Traditionally, Lent was 40 days of fasting; meaning one meal a day and full fasting on Friday. Any rich foods were not allowed. The Tuesday before lent, people of Poland used up food so that it would not be spoiled or wasted. Families would use up their eggs, butter and sugar and fruit by treating themselves one last time before Lent began with these rich donuts.

With so many Polish people in Chicago and the surrounding areas, it is any wonder that you can find these treats everywhere you look? Lots of people indulged in these and other treats yesterday as they feasted before Lent begins and now they all have Fat Tuesday Hangovers. and Pazcki Comas. This will probably help them have the resolve to stick to whatever they chose to give up for the next 40 days of Lent if it was an item of food that they chose. I didn’t grow up with these little gems but they have become a fun tradition in my home.

The most common things being given up for Lent in 2020 are: 

1. Chocolate

2. Social Networking

3. Alcohol

4. Twitter

5. Facebook

6. School

7. Meat 

8. Sweets

9. Coffee

10. Fizzy drinks

It is such a personal decision to participate or not. Best of luck to you sticking to it. I hope you your Pazcki day Coma doesn’t last long and your resolve to stick to your committment does!