Pam DeFiglio / Pioneer Press
Bohdana Malanchuk, left, and Alina Manita have been serving up paczki at Oak Mill Bakery in Niles. Fat Thursday, which was Feb. 16, and Mardi Gras, Feb. 21, are the most popular days for patrons to purchase the Polish fried dough cakes stuffed with a wide variety of jams and custards. Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
A large Polish-American population in Niles and Park Ridge contributes to the popularity of Paczki Day, an Eastern European take on Mardi Gras. In Catholic tradition, the day is devoted to feasting before the fasting period of Lent, which started Wednesday, Feb. 22 this year.
On Fat Thursday, Feb. 16, and Fat Tuesday, Feb. 21, crowds lined up at Oak Mill Bakery in Niles, as well as other bakeries, delis and groceries in the Chicago area, to bring home the goodies. Popular flavors include strawberry, raspberry, custard, prune, rose, blueberry and others. Some varieties are stuffed with fresh fruit and whipped cream.
