Happy Fastnacht Day!

[MegoSteve]

For those of you not in PA Dutch country, Fastnacht Day is that special time of year where everyone in this part of Pennsylvania eats these amazing deep fried donuts called Fastnachts. The original idea of making them, I think, was to use up all of the sugar and lard in the house before Lent, when you aren't allowed to eat anything good or have any fun. Supposedly, eating Fastnachts also brings you good luck, but the only thing I've got out of them is the spare tire around my waist.

Everyone else in the U.S. is thinking about the big primaries today and I'm thinking about donuts...

[JPkempo]

I would rather think about donuts.

[toys2cool]

well they sound pretty darn tasty

[Mikey]

Trivia for people who don't know ......

Pennsylvania Dutch are actually not Dutch

Most are of German decent

The name Pennsylvania Dutch actually started as Pennsylvania Deutsch but was corrupted thoughout the years.

[mitchedwards]

Sounds Yummy. eat a few for me

[miguet]

Everyone else in the U.S. is thinking about the big primaries today and I'm thinking about donuts...

I think I'll eat some donuts before I go to vote.

[Adam West]

Is this an Amish tradition? I didn't think Lent was observed by any other sect besides Catholics.

[Bo8a_Fett]

want some....want some now...

[Hulk]

I used to LOVE those things. We'd buy them every Wednesday at a flea market in Hillsborough, NJ, Packard's market.

I still have a dining room table that the Amish made that my mother bought there when I was a kid. The Amish certainly know how to make furniture. I just wish I could sit down and eat some of those donuts right about now!

[Meule]

Trivia for people who don't know ......

Pennsylvania Dutch are actually not Dutch

Most are of German decent

The name Pennsylvania Dutch actually started as Pennsylvania Deutsch but was corrupted thoughout the years.

The name Fastnacht would suggest it's indeed German, not Dutch

[Wee67]

The name Fastnacht would suggest it's indeed German, not Dutch

Mike is right on about this. The "Dutch" is an anglicization of Deutsch. The Amish even refer to those outside the community as "The English."

[Hotfoot]

Ich war in Pittsburgh geboren und verwendet zu essen Fastnachts. Haben Sie nicht in jedem Jahr hatte.

[MegoSteve]

I ate six so far, and bought another half-dozen on the way home from work so I can have more for breakfast.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Yum. And all the shops are shut. Probably a good thing, I don't really need to put on any more weight. Groan.