The full five senses gluttony that is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is celebrated in Poland and other eastern european countries on Fat Thursday (TÅ‚usty czwartek in Polish) (The last thursday before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent). This is a Christian tradition (that has pagan roots, as so much of Christianity does) where all the perishable and decadent ingredients generally given up for Lent (such as sugar, butter, eggs, chocolate, etc) are used up in feasting that would tax even the most conditioned competitive eater.
A relatively large population of Polish immigrants settled here in Central and slightly more Western Massachusetts back in the early part of the last century. Some towns such as Springfield, Greenfield, Chicopee, Deerfield, Ludlow, Ware, Warren, and Palmer (especially the Three Rivers part of Palmer) attracted and fostered identifiably ethnic Polish American populations. As with any situation where an ethnic group coaleses, food is one of the first manifestations and nexi of culture. For example, Three Rivers has a festival every year where you can get your pierogi fix (as well as other dishes of which I am less knowledgable with, I am a relative newbie to Polish food beyond the iconic dishes).
