On February 27, 2025, Poland will celebrate Tłusty Czwartek, or Fat Thursday, with rich traditions and delectable pastries. This year, the beloved pączki, or Polish doughnuts, have become significantly more expensive, reflecting broader trends of inflation affecting food prices.
According to Business Insider Polska, based on data from the PanParagon app, pączki from bakeries are pricier by around 60 groszy than they were last year, costing approximately 4.60 zł each compared to 3.50 zł back in 2024. This price increase equates to about 31 percent. For discount store pączki, the median price has leaped from 2.18 zł to 3.09 zł, marking a steep jump of around 42 percent. Antonina Grzelak from PanParagon suggests these higher costs are linked to inflation and rising expenses for raw materials, energy, and labor. She adds, "This year, we're also witnessing the rise of premium sweet options such as Dubai-style pączki or those filled with pistachio, which significantly contribute to the median prices of these celebration treats."
Tłusty Czwartek marks the last Thursday of Carnival, just before the Lenten period begins, providing Polish families with one last chance to indulge. Traditionally, this day allows for excessive consumption, with people believing they should eat at least one pączek for good luck for the upcoming year.
The history of Tłusty Czwartek can be traced back as far as pagan times, particularly among the Romans, who celebrated the end of winter with feasting. Back then, pączki were often filled with meat and accompanied by vodka. The custom of eating sweet pączki began about 500 years ago, and nowadays, they are undoubtedly the stars of the day.
Remarkably, pączki accounted for just about 30 percent of all grocery receipts during Tłusty Czwartek last year, compared to only 3.7 percent on regular days. Analysts have also examined the competition pączki face from faworki, another traditional treat. It turns out pączki have overwhelmingly fended off competition, featuring on 94 percent of purchase receipts during the carnival’s final Thursday, highlighting their popularity.
Another significant change for this year is the return of the value-added tax (VAT) on pączki after three years of tax breaks. Each pączek will now be subject to 5 percent VAT, adding to the already heightened prices. Piotr Juszczyk, Chief Tax Advisor at inFakt, remarked, "For the past three years, pączki were like all-inclusive vacations—no additional costs. Now, on February 27, 2025, the pączki we enjoy will carry this small tax, making them not just treats but also part of the tax reality."
Despite the increased costs, Poles are expected to consume around 100 million pączki this Tłusty Czwartek. Statistical estimates suggest the average person will eat between two to three pączki, contributing to the overall expenditure expected to reach around 194 million zł. This spending is intriguingly likened to the value of 327 apartments based on current market prices for homes. Bartosz Turek, Chief Analyst at HREIT, suggests, "We're indulging in pastries worth the price of many homes, reflecting both cultural significance and economic trends. Although the price of pączki has risen by about 3 percent over the past year, we must compare this with the continuously climbing property values. Current housing market insights show rental prices increased by roughly 13 percent over the last year, whereas pączki are still within reach compared to this rising cost-of-living crisis."
Despite the bittersweet convergence of flavors with financial realities, Poles are poised to enjoy Fat Thursday with gusto. With bakery counters overflowing with various pączki, from traditional fillings to contemporary innovations, this annual celebration shines brightly on the Polish culinary calendar.
The fun of Tłusty Czwartek persists, representing joy, indulgence, and cultural heritage, with numbers from the past year indicating both popularity and economic challenges.