Today, October 8, is an important day — the Department of Homeland Security was established (by President George W. Bush) and Don Larson (Yankees) pitched the only perfect game in the history of the baseball World Series on the 8th day of October. But what really makes this day special is, it’s National Pierogi Day.
Before I married Claire, I had never heard of a Pierogi, but I found out that it had a very special place in her life, growing up. I’m not sure it still happens, but every year after Thanksgiving, Claire’s entire (big) family got together and made hundreds of pierogis for the family’s Christmas Eve dinner.
Considered to be one of Poland’s national dishes, pierogis are first boiled and then served several at a time with melted butter. In Eastern Europe, most countries have their own version of the dumpling.
In the United States, pierogis are a popular dish in Polish communities and many events are held in honor of the periogi. In Whiting, Indiana, a pierogi fest is held for 3 days in July, and in Pittsburgh every Pittsburg Pirates baseball home game features a pierogi race, where runners in pierogi costumes compete in a race. And people in the village of Glendon in Alberta, Canada love pierogis so much that in 1993 they constructed a 25 foot tall fiberglass pierogi, with a fork through it.
Researchers haven’t found a real history behind National Pierogi Day…. in fact, they haven’t even been able to determine the exact year of beginning for the day. But if someone thinks today is National Pierogi Day, that’s good enough for me. Seems like a better reason that some to celebrate.
— 30 —