Cape Fear celebrates Fat Tuesday the Polish way with pączki

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — In honor of Mardi Gras, the Polish community is rolling out their version of the Fat Tuesday tradition, celebrated by over-indulging on goodies before giving something up for Lent.

While New Orleans has beignets, the Cape Fear has pączki, a traditional Polish donut usually filled with plum jam, which is a delicacy for the holiday.

Pulaski Market in Wilmington has been in full preparation, stocking up on donuts from local Polish bakeries in order to fully prepare for the holiday.

Along with pączki, other traditional Polish sweets like angel wings and poppy seed rolls lined their shelves.

Weronika Matuszewski is an employee at Pulaski Market and says people have been buying dozens and dozens of donuts.

She says the reason so many donuts are eaten is deep-rooted in folklore.

“The whole point is just to kind of celebrate, eat as much goodies, and there’s a big folklore behind it that the more donuts you eat, the more luck you actually have during the Lent season,” said Matuszewski.

While the shop ran a special on donuts for Fat Tuesday, because of popularity, they will have new, fresh stock by the weekend.