Tłusty Czwartek: Celebrations in the USA and Canada

Tłusty Czwartek is one of the most eagerly awaited holidays in Polish culture, a day when Poles indulge in delicious pączki, faworki, and other sweets. Every year, many Polish student clubs in the United States and Canada organize celebrations of this day, gathering students for shared festivities and learning about the history of this wonderful tradition.

In the United States and Canada, this holiday is celebrated in a particularly festive manner by Polish student clubs at universities such as Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Seton Hall, Columbia University, Fordham University, Stony Brook University, University of Toronto, Marquette University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago, and McMaster University. These Polish student organizations organized events this year that brought together Polish students for a shared tasting of traditional Polish pączki. These events also provided a great opportunity to showcase Polish culture to those who may not be familiar with it, strengthening national identity and traditions beyond Poland's borders.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Polish Club

The celebration of Tłusty Czwartek dates back to pagan rituals, when the end of winter and the arrival of spring were celebrated. This tradition involved feasting, during which fatty foods, especially meat, were consumed. In the past pączki, were served as a snack with the main dish, were salty and often filled with bacon. It wasn’t until the 16th century in Poland that the tradition of eating sweet pączki emerged. They still differed from the modern version – some pączki contained a hidden nut or almond, and finding such a “lucky” pączek was believed to bring prosperity and good fortune.

The tradition of Tłusty Czwartek not only brings Polish students together overseas but also promotes Polish culture and customs within academic communities in the United States and Canada. The events organized became a wonderful opportunity for shared celebration, integration, and fostering a sense of pride in our heritage.