So today is Fat Tuesday. Growing up I never really paid much attention but John’s dad was born in raised just outside New Orleans, in Metairie, LA. So as you can imagine John grew up with all kind of Fat Tuesday & Mardi Gras traditions. In the 8 years that we have been together we have been to LA several times to visit family & just love it! The history, the food, the fun little sayings that you will never hear any place else! For example what would you call the grassy section that divides the lanes of a road? Me, I call it a median, Cathy John’s cousin in LA calls it the “neutral ground” It has something to do with during war time not being able to shoot someone when they were in a certain area. Beki do you know? Any way I love that kind of stuff!
Now you probably know that Carnival is not just a New Orleans thing it is celebrated all over the world, but there is something that I had never heard of until moving back to Michigan, Paczki Day. It is the "feast of plenty,” celebrated by Polish Americans. The Paczki is a Fat Tuesday tradition. Just as Louisiana has the King Cake, the Polish in Detroit the go nuts for Paczkis! Well as do the rest of the nuts all over the state. Basically they are a huge jelly or custard filled donut that they charge an arm & a leg for. They are yummy but darn if I am going to stand in line for an hour for em. Now if you are in Britain, Ireland, or Australia you’ll be celebrating “Shove Tuesday” or “Pancake Day”. Looks like Fat Tuesday is just one big carb fest!
In cause you are looking for some yumminess to celebrate you can check out some Mardi Gras recipes, Pancake Day recipes or Paczkis!
Enjoy!
5 comments:
Yummy photos! Mmmm....pastries...drool! I think perhaps we'll be hitting IHOP for the free pancakes--it's National Pancake day, after all! And who am I to scoff at tradition, especially when tradition means I don't have to make dinner? LOL
How have I never heard of Paczki day??? A celebration of giant doughnuts? I can so totally embrace that concept...
However you choose to carb up today - I hope that your day is great!
oh. that's why all the employees at whole foods were dressed so scandously.
A carb fest I sure had yesterday! I held off eating King Cake all season, but yesterday I caved.
I used to know the neutral ground history, but I've since forgotten it. Damn kids have turned my brain to mush!!
MeLisa, you are quite the historian.
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