17th Annual Pączki Day – WNY’s Largest Polish Pre-Lenten Celebration

BUFFALO, N.Y. –Come out and warm up to the Polkas, Polish food and of course the Pączki!
You say, what’s a pączek (Pl., punch-key)? A pączek (sing., pohn-check) is a deep-fried piece of dough shaped into a flattened sphere and filled with jam or other sweet filling. A traditional filling is marmalade made from fried rose buds. Fresh pączki are usually covered with powdered sugar, icing or bits of fried orange zest. Pączki have been known in Poland at least since the Middle Ages. It is the feast of plenty before the Lenten fast begins. It is the last day of gaiety in Karnawal time, the period between Christmas and Lent. It is to mark the last moments of excess before the austerity of Lenten sacrifice. The most popular flavor here is the black raspberry filled. You say you never did a Polka, let the Polish Heritage Dancers show you how. This group, the Ambassadors of WNY’s Polonia have been hosting this celebration for the past seventeen years and this serves as a fundraiser for costumes. Each region of Poland has it’s own unique dress and dances. So bring your family and friends to celebrate the last hurrah before lent Polish style. The 17th Annual Pączki Day will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at the Hearthstone Manor, 333 Dick Road in Depew from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Special Delivery will be playing all your favorite polkas from 2-6 PM. The Polish Heritage Dancers will take the stage at 3 PM. Our Polish kitchen will be open for all your favorite Polish foods. Dinners as well as ala carte items, desserts and of course Paczki will be on the menu. Polish Beer will also be available. There will also be a Theme Basket Raffle. We will crown Pączki King, Queen, Prince and Princess. Amber Gems & More and Salt Lamps Etc. will be there for your shopping pleasure.

This event is a perfect opportunity to bring children and grandchildren for a fun afternoon. Plenty of free parking and buses are welcome. Tickets are $6.00 in advance, $8.00 at the door. Children under 12 can get in for only $2.00. For tickets, table reservations, or more information Michelle at (716) 983-5084 or Debbie at (716) 681-3526. Tickets are also available at the Am-Pol Eagle Newspaper, the voice of Polonia, 3620 Harlem Rd. Cheektowaga, NY 835-9454 and at Salt Lamps Etc. 5274 Broadway, Lancaster, NY 564-9286. Pre-sale tickets on sale now till Feb. 28th. Get your tickets early as there will be no pre-sale tickets held at the door. Visit their website at www.phdofwny.com and like them on Facebook.