Tuesday was Paczki Day in Hamtramck, Michigan. When I lived there, it was a no-holds-barred Fat Tuesday celebration with paczkis, pierogies, alcohol, and lots of Polish dancing. Everyone took off work that day, and the Polish bakeries would have lines hundreds of people long to buy a dozen paczkis. A paczki, by the way, is kind of like a really heavy and rich jelly donut with a variety of fillings, custard being my personal favorite. They’re pronounced “POONCH-key” (don’t ask me why!) and they’re delicious!
Paczki Day in Hamtramck
Here in Atlanta, we have Mardis Gras celebrations but it’s nothing like what I saw on the streets of Hamtramck. Despite the fact that it’s probably twenty degrees colder up there, sometimes I miss those crazy local traditions and the friends with whom I celebrated… What is your favorite regional party?