The "Fasnacht" Story

Fasnacht Day!  Shady Maple stand on market will sell about
300 dozen of the fatty treats.

It was an ordinary day.  Just got back from Lancaster's Central Market with a couple of bags of Fasnachts.  Have any idea what I'm talking about?  Well, maybe I should explain myself.  Today is Shrove Tuesday which originated during the Middle Ages as a day when food items like milk, lard, sugar, butter and eggs were to be consumed so they wouldn't spoil during the following forty days of Lent when Christians were expected to fast and pray.  In France, the consumption of all fats and fatty foods on this day coined the name "Fat Tuesday."  In England the tradition of serving pancakes to use the fatty goods gave way to Pancake Day.  In some South American countries, the day is associated with "Carnaval", a festival of dancing, drinking and debauchery.  

Customers waiting to get their Fasnachts at 6:45 AM today.

Carnival, the English spelling of the word "carne lever" or "meat takeaway" has become another Lenten tradition.  For me, the day is known as Fasnacht Day.  The word "Fasnacht" is German, meaning "fast night," or the night before Ash Wednesday.  Every year in Lancaster County, which is known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country and which was settled primarily by German Americans, the Fasnacht is the king.  

Early morning shoppers at Central Market in downtown Lancaster, PA

Fasnachts are made to use up lard, sugar, butter, eggs and other rich foods in the house before the austere diet of Lent begins.  The Fasnacht came from southern Germany, Switzerland, Alsace and Austria.  It is usually written Fasnacht, but at times is spelled Fastnacht, Faschnacht, Fosnot, Fosnaught or Fausnaught.

Which would you rather eat?  One of the
doughie Fasnachts in the rear or the
cream-filled Long John in the foreground.
You know my choice!!

 

It is pronounced as: faws-nahk.  The name, no matter how you spell it or pronounce it, refers to a fried doughnut made from yeast dough.  A true Fasnacht is square without a hole in the center.  Today they tend to make them with the hole, since they fry more evenly.  It has no filling in it, but may come uncoated, dusted in powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.  Are they tasty?  Will I eat one of the Fasnachts that I just bought?  Well, I have too!!  After all, I was born in Lancaster County, the epicenter of the Fasnacht and today is Fasnacht Day.  Every store as well as farmer's markets will have them for sale today.  And, tradition says it will bring me good luck.  Heaven knows I certainly could use some good luck.  And Yes, I will eat one.  They're sitting in front of me!  But, I'd much rather have a big, glazed, cream-filled donut.  Maybe even two or three.  Dunked in milk!  For, if I'm going to have to fast and pray for the next 40 days, the tasteless and doughy Fasnacht isn't gonna be enough.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.