posted February 24, 2009 09:37 AM            

Fastnacht Day occurs the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. In England it's called Shrove Tuesday, and in French it's called Mardi Gras. In Europe, New Orleans, Mobile, Canada, and Latino culture, the weeks prior to Lent are for celebrating, as in the German Fasching, Fasnacht or Karneval, the French Mardi Gras or the Italian carnival. It represents a period of revelry before the solemn period of fasting and self-reflection. In fact, "Fastnacht" means "Eve of the Fast."

The Pennsylvania Dutch celebrate only a single day; Fastnacht Day, or Shrove Tuesday. The tradition of eating fastnachts, which are unleavened, deep-fried doughnuts, originated in Germany hundreds of years ago most likely during the Middle Ages. It serves as a way of using up the last of the lard and sugar before beginning a fast from sweets.