When I first joined the staff at the Main Library many years ago, I'd been only (very) vaguely aware of fastnachts. They had certainly not been a part of my family's Fat Tuesday traditions and I didn't know anyone who ate them when I was growing up. My first Fastnacht (or Fasnacht) Day in Reading found me presented with several variations of the doughnut-like pastry by Berks Countians eager to share this Pennsylvania German cultural food staple.
Paczki (pronounced POONCH-key; a single one is a paczek [POTCH-ek]) are in many ways similar to fastnachts in that they are dense, heavy, and fried. Paczki are, however, always filled; prune, cherry, and lemon are among the more customary paczki fillings.
This is an example of the Mardi Gras flag; the selection of the New Orleans Mardi Gras colors was done by a member of the Russian royal family. Grand Duke Alexis Romanov was visiting New Orleans in 1872 during the Mardi Gras festivities and was given the honor of selecting which hues would be incorporated into the official banner of the event. He chose purple to represent justice, gold to symbolize power, and green to denote faith; the purple crown in the center indicates Duke's regal bloodline.
Unfortunately, my first encounter with a fastnacht was without the benefit of any sweetener, such as turkey syrup (why is it called that, anyway?--it's not poultry flavored! [thank heavens]) or molasses. I was underwhelmed. I could not imagine why people became so excited to nibble on this starchy, almost tasteless dessert bread.
I've never become a fan of the fastnacht, even having eaten them flavored with something sweet. Polish-Americans look forward to consuming paczki every year on Fat Tuesday:
I've never become a fan of the fastnacht, even having eaten them flavored with something sweet. Polish-Americans look forward to consuming paczki every year on Fat Tuesday:
Paczki (pronounced POONCH-key; a single one is a paczek [POTCH-ek]) are in many ways similar to fastnachts in that they are dense, heavy, and fried. Paczki are, however, always filled; prune, cherry, and lemon are among the more customary paczki fillings.
The American South, home to the greatest Mardi Gras celebration in the country (New Orleans), has its own traditional dessert for the holiday.
A king cake is a sweetbread that is usually also filled and topped with sugary icing (Y-U-M!) Traditional king cakes have a trinket baked inside them, which are seen as portents of good fortune to the person who disgorges it. The krewes, or roving string bands that parade throughout New Orleans on Mardi Gras, often select their leader for that august day based on whoever draws the trinket.
Many king cakes have the figure of a baby secreted within them; this tradition grew from the original time of year when this confection was served. Epiphany is the feast celebrated just after Christmas when Christians remember the arrival of the Three Kings to the manger of the infant Jesus. The infant figure represents the Baby Jesus, and the cake is named for the three royal personages who followed a star to find the Christ Child.
This is an example of the Mardi Gras flag; the selection of the New Orleans Mardi Gras colors was done by a member of the Russian royal family. Grand Duke Alexis Romanov was visiting New Orleans in 1872 during the Mardi Gras festivities and was given the honor of selecting which hues would be incorporated into the official banner of the event. He chose purple to represent justice, gold to symbolize power, and green to denote faith; the purple crown in the center indicates Duke's regal bloodline.
Whether you feast on fastnachts, polish off some paczki, or consume a piece of king cake,
Happy Mardi Gras to all...
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