While New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras, Chicago has its own gluttonous Fat Tuesday holiday — Pączki Day. Pączki Day marks the last day before the Lenten season begins for Christians. Because Lent is meant to be a time of fasting and prayer, many people spend the day before gorging themselves on, well, pączki (POONCH-key). This year, Pączki Day falls on March 4. The Polish fried dough treats are similar to jelly doughnuts, but they’re not jelly doughnuts — they’re pączki.