The tradition of Fat Thursday – Why do we eat doughnuts on Fat Thursday?

In Poland, the tradition of Fat Thursday and the custom of eating doughnuts appeared in the 16th century. A fat day was the beginning of a fat week. It was a time of fun and fatty food. Everyone wanted to eat their fill before the long 40-day fast, which was strictly observed at that time. The doughnuts were called paunchy and were deep-fried, usually in lard. They were served sweet, but generously seasoned with cracklings. The first doughnuts were much harder than today’s ones because they were made of dense dough, without yeast. Some baked goods were also filled with nuts or almonds, and the person who found a doughnut with the addition was assured of happiness and prosperity for the next year.

In poorer homes, where there was not enough fat, doughnuts were prepared in a bread oven or fried on a baking tray. However, to maintain the tradition of eating fatty foods, they were served with cracklings.

In Lesser Poland, Fat Thursday was once called Combrowe Thursday and was celebrated in a very original, grand way. And it came from legends… According to myths, the mayor of Krakow, who lived in the 17th century, was heartless and harsh, especially towards women trading on the Krakow market. He died on Fat Thursday, and since then, on each anniversary of his death, Krakow’s street vendors organized grand parties and dances at the market and enticed men passing by to dance in return for the harm done to them by the mayor named Comber.