Fat Thursday

The Fat Thursday (Polish tłusty czwartek) is a traditional Polish feast marking the last Thursday before Lent. It is similar to, but should not be confused with, the French festival of Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday"). Traditionally it is a day of gluttony and belly-worship, when people meet in their homes or cafes with their friends and relatives and eat large quantities of sweets, cakes and all other meals forbidden during the lent. Among the most popular all-national dishes served on that day are pączki, fist-sized donuts filled with rose marmalade, faworki and chrust , French dough fingers served with lots of powdered sugar.