Fat Thursday (Polish Tłusty czwartek, German Fetter Donnerstag or Schmutziger Donnerstag) is a traditional Polish and German feast marking the last Thursday before Lent (because Lent is fast time such opportunity arrives on Easter). It is similar to, but should not be confused with, the French festival of Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday"). Traditionally it is a day of gluttony and belly-worship, when people meet in their homes or cafés with their friends and relatives and eat large quantities of sweets, cakes and other meals forbidden during Lent. Among the most popular all-national dishes served on that day are pączki or berliner, fist-sized donuts filled with rose marmalade, and faworki, French dough fingers served with lots of powdered sugar.

In Italy, Giovedì Grasso (Fat Thursday) is celebrated, too, but is not very different from Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday). It is also similar to the Greek custom of Tsiknopempti (loosely translatable as "Barbeque Thursday"), which involves the massive consumption of barbequed meat.

Fat Thursday by year

See also

• Carnival
• Culture of Poland
• Polish cuisine
• Maslenitsa (a similar holiday in Russia)

External links

• Polish movable feasts in Polish Wikisource

Polish traditions | Schmutziger Donnerstag | Tłusty czwartek | Jeudi Gras