The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PUNCHKIE DAY (PACZKI)

THE DAY BEFORE LENT, THAT TUESDAY IS CONSIDERED PUNCHKIE DAY.
A PUNCKKIE IS A JELLY FILLED DOUGHNUT. THIS TUESDAY IS
CALLED SO BECAUSE IT IS THE LAST DAY BEFORE FASTING BEGINS. SO WHEN
PUNCHKIES ARE MADE ON THIS TUESDAY THEY ARE NORMALLY ALL EATEN
TOO. OF CURSE, PUNCHKIES CAN BE MADE ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR,
BUT THIS IS THE DAY WHEN THEIR POPULARITY IS THE GREATEST

Data entry tech comment: (THE COLLECTOR HAS CHOSEN TO SPELL "PUNCHKIE" AS IT IS PRONOUNCED
(IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. BECAUSE IT IS A WORD OF POLISH
(ORIGIN, THE ENGLISH ALPHABET DOES NOT ACCOMODATE ITS PROPER
(SPELLING. IN ENGLISH, THE CLOSEST WE CAN COME TO THE CORRECT
(SPELLING IS "PACZKI.")

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 02-01-1972