mmm-yoso is not on vacation. Cathy is blogging about some silly stuff. Kirk is not .
Hello Again. This post is late, as my Friends in Detroit are keenly aware. I was kind of busy and didn't get a chance to even start the post until it was too late.
This isn't a religious post, per se. It is an introduction to an explanation of why you are seeing $1 Filet o' Fish sandwichs at McDonald's, $1 fish tacos at Rubio's, a fish sandwich at Arby's, as well as at KFC and full page ads for seafood at Ralphs. I have had a few friends remark to me about McDonald's having its Fillet-o Fish Fridays and how that 'seems to happen every so often'.
Lent is a Christian Observance. It starts on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter. That was on February 20 this year. As you know, if you have been reading the blog, I was born and raised in Detroit and was also raised Catholic. I am not a Practicing Catholic now, but I do observe some of our rituals for a "just in case" scenario. Christians perform some type of sacrifice for the 40 days of Lent. Usually the sacrifice involves giving up a favorite food, but I also have some friends who will give up watching television, or the Internet...something that involves a sacrifice. The idea is that Christ died for our sins and He sacrificed and we should too. Christians Believe that on Easter, Christ rose from the dead and basically the sacrificing stops then and we all go back to whatever we did without for the previous 40 days.
ANYHOW, you all know about Mardi Gras...debauchery and partying in the Big Easy and all of that. That's a giant party ends on the day before Lent. Its a major deal party in New Orleans...so, similarly...if you skew the definition of 'similar'... mostly in the South East/Detroit area of Michigan, there is Paczki Day (its pronounced poonch-key, sort of, there is a thingy under the letter "c"; oh, never mind). One Paczek is a jelly donut, the plural is Paczki. Fried donuts filled with jelly or jam and either glazed or covered in powdered sugar. I buy jelly donuts at Mary's Donuts, in Santee.
Detroiters, and others who are not as wild and crazy as revelers in New Orleans at Mardi Gras go all out and eat up as many Paczki as they can (whoo hoo!), because once Lent happens, there are no jelly donuts to be had in any bakeries, only lowly Hot Cross Buns.
Which are not bad, but are definitely not fried (they are baked), or filled with jelly (they do have some dried fruit or raisins in them) and are part of that "sacrificing" Christians (and Detroiters) do for the 40 days.
So, that's it. You go crazy eating jelly donuts, or partying, and then Lent begins and you begin sacrificing with lowly baked instead of fried sweets.
As a side note, this year was the first year that all the Starbucks in the Greater Detroit area had Paczek available in their stores. Everyone really gets into Paczki just before Lent. The day when the most are sold is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, though. Dozens and dozens are bought and consumed at work, grocery stores give them out...its an interesting phenomenon.
Future Lent posts will explain, via short blogging, about 'not eating meat' as defined by Catholics (hint- fish/seafood does not count as 'meat').
Mary's Donuts 9031 Mission Gorge Road Santee 92071 (SE corner of Mission Gorge and 125) Open 24/7
Very educational post there, Cathy! I'm a practicing Catholic, and have partaken of the $1 Filet O' Fish friday except that my local McDonald's raised the price this year to $1.29!! I also made a write-up on the meaning of ash wednesday 5 years ago on my website, here http://cuong.nguyensolutions.com/ashwed/
Here's hoping your Lenten season is going well! It's no meat day again tomorrow.
Posted by: kingkong5 | Thursday, 01 March 2007 at 10:00 AM
Ah, the economics of raising the minimum wage has hit all of us, KK5. I kind of crave Filet-o-Fish and so now that it is less expensive, I eat more...along with, starting today, Shamrock Shakes! I do so love Lent. Your post was very informative. Thanks for writing in.
Posted by: Cathy | Thursday, 01 March 2007 at 10:15 AM
Hi Cathy! It's interesting on how all these fast food places are offering fish just to try to maintain their cash flow. Thanks for the education on the paczek! Even though I'm not Catholic, I gave up aggressive driving and fast food. I think I'm good on the fast food, but we'll see how long my "driving like an angel" lasts.... =P
Posted by: Vicky | Thursday, 01 March 2007 at 04:48 PM
I went to Catholic grade school, and I remember each Lent that we would get fish sticks on Fridays. I actually liked it better than the food they normally served so it was like an anti-sacrifice for me. :-)
Posted by: howie | Thursday, 01 March 2007 at 05:12 PM
Hi Vicy- I was so stuck in traffic yesterday, aggressive driving was not an option...along with my pretty much giving up any thoughts of speeding when my arm was in a cast to my shoulder late last year (having a manual transmission and cast on is not conducive to rapid shifting)...oh, but no fast food...it isn't a matter of taste, but more of convenience at this point in the year for me...
and, Howie...I do understand having cravings for fish sticks and those 'rare' foods we get to eat mostly only during Lent. Almost have to sacrifice something else other than food it seems.
Posted by: Cathy | Friday, 02 March 2007 at 05:33 AM
I've been meaning to get to Mary's for a donut - I've heard they are the best! Do they do a good glazed marble twist?
KFC is even in the fish sandwich business? I remember McDonalds was a guilty pleasure even as recently as 3 or 4 years ago. I hardly ever have fast food anymore though. I have been searching out for some deep fried fish fries!
Posted by: Scott | Sunday, 04 March 2007 at 08:27 AM
Raised glazed donuts and twists are good here, no marbled ones though...unfilled raised sticks with chocolate glaze on top may be as close as you can get if you want both flavors, Scott...The Mister and I just passed Mary's within the last 30 minutes and the parking was very crowded. As a hint- since they are open 24/7 and Sunday morning is probably the busiest time of the week for them, going in *late* Saturday night or even in the wee hours of Sunday will get you the freshest, hottest donuts. As for KFC, they started teh $1 fish sandwiches last year for Lent and actually had them on the menu all year, staying at the price point. They are smaller sandwiches, but quite good, and are not chicken-y flavored at all. Friday Fish Fry...must make notes...
Posted by: Cathy | Sunday, 04 March 2007 at 09:13 AM
as a transplanted michigander, i googled "paczki san diego," in the wild hope i could find a place to get them out here and stumbled upon your blog.
I am intrigued and look forward to visiting and following your site in the future.
Posted by: j smith | Tuesday, 16 February 2010 at 10:44 PM
Welcome to our fine City/County/State and blog, j! I got my pancki/jelly donut at Mary's Donuts in Santee late last night. It was an unusually long day for me. I have a bag of Better Made's in the back seat of my car right now. I'll be posting more soon.
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, 17 February 2010 at 06:38 AM
Hilarious post, Cathy! I learned something and I giggled. Thank you! Happy Paczki Day!
Posted by: Eddie Lin | Friday, 19 February 2010 at 07:13 AM
Hi Eddie. I'll be posting on this year's pancki -and Lent- soon. Welcome to our blog.
Posted by: Cathy | Friday, 19 February 2010 at 08:24 AM