Many cultures have different Fat Tuesday traditions. Even people in different parts of the United States celebrate the day differently. A curious Pennsylvania Dutch tradition skips much of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Day before Lent and simply involves the eating of a type of donut called a fastnacht.
The tradition of earting fastnachts probably started in Germany many centuries ago and was carried by the German settlers to Pennsylvania. Eating a fastnacht preventst boils from the previous year, although the tradition was likely an excuse to use up fats and sugars before the traditional Lenten fast.
What a Fastnacht Is
A fastnacht is a type of donut made from potatoes. Fastnacht is a combination of two German words meanin "fast night.” Many recipes for this Pennsylvania Dutch hoilday food can be found online, and one that does not include lard can be found here.
True fastnacht enthusiasts swear that the only proper way to cook a fastnacht is with animal fats. People who want to try to make fastnachts for themselves should shop around for lard if they want to do it the right way. People who are more health conscious may want to substitute vegetable oils. The opinions about whether a hole should be included in a fastnacht or not varies, although some people swear that fastnachts should not have holes because that will cause the syrup to fall out.
Summing Up Fastnacht Day
Fastnacht Day is not a complex holiday, perhaps because the people who first celebrated considered themselve to be plain. Rather than the weeks long celebrations that happen elsewhere in Europe and America, a Pennsylvania Ducth family just sits down and eats the potato donuts at the table. Some Pennsylvania stores will advertise the hoiday as donut day. This has the affect of achieving higher sales of donuts, but while a fastnacht is a donut, not all donuts are fastnachts.
A person planning to participate in the Fastnacht Day festivities should remember that proper fastnachts are made with lard and deep fried ,as the point of the holiday was to use up fats and sweets before beginning the 40 day fast of Lent. Many people who are not Catholics engage in the tradition today for cultural reasons or merely to prevent themselves from getting a boil. It is probably best just to enjoy the day and not worry about why it is celebrated.
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