It's high Carnival season! The royal chefs have been making successive batches of paczki and chrusciki, costumes have been worn, and merriment has ensued. Traditionally, Carnival in Poland officially begins in January with the Feast of the Epiphany, and goes all the way to Shrove Tuesday, when all parties are to end at midnight upon the start of Ash Wednesday. That's almost four months of celebrations, which reach their apex just before Lent starts.
Even as recently as the mid 20th century, Polish gentry would host a special kind of winter party called a kulig, which would involve sleigh rides going from house to house, and thereby, from party to party. Did you host your own kulig this year? Tell us all about it, please!
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| For more information about Highlander Carnival in Bukownia, click here. |
Highlander Carnival has been going on in the Tatras mountains since the beginning of February. Music, food, drink, sleigh rides, and dancing are all part of the occasion. Radio New Masovia plans to play some Goral music from this year's Goral Highlander Carnival in an upcoming episode.
Carnival goes out with a bang as it goes into high gear in the final days before Ash Wednesday. You've heard of Mardi Gras? Well, the Poles get started the previous Thursday, a.k.a. "Fat Thursday" or for many, it's "Donut Day". Bring on the pączki! It is estimated that over 100 million pączki are eaten in Poland alone on Fat Thursday! That's about 2.5 per person. New Masovians are hereby notified that we have a reputation to keep up!
HRH Prince David, meanwhile, is preparing to host a Principality-wide party at the Royal Palace on the 26th of February. Invitations have been sent out to all citizens within driving distance, and much food and drink will be consumed. Special souvenirs for honored guests have been ordered, and Customs will be prepared to stamp passports with this sudden influx of visitors. If you are unable to make it, we hope to hear your stories of how you celebrated Carnival this year.
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