Today is National Pierogi Day. I had never heard of a pierogi before I was married, but it turns out these “Polish dumplings” have been around since the 13th century. They originated in Eastern Europe as a tasty — and popular —dish among peasants.
Americans are pretty much obsessed with food — that’s why we have cheeseburger day, ice cream day, potato day, etc. So it’s not surprising that pierogis have their own day.
To make pierogis, you make a dough and boil it. After that, you can bake it and fry it in butter. Initially the peasants stuffed the dough with potatos, cheese, onions, cabbage, mushrooms, and spinach. But today, you can put anything inside the dough. Depending on the filling, pierogis can be a side dish, appetizer, or a dessert.
My extensive research couldn’t find any real history behind today being Pierogi Day, or even find any indication of when it started. I did find one article that indicated that researchers are still working on finding some evidence of the importance and history of Pierogi Day. But until then, you can still celebrate the day.
Claire’s family has their own Pierogi Day — every year, just after Thanksgiving, they get together and make pierogis by the hundreds. I think most are then eaten at Christmas. Maybe the day that the Stracensky family makes pierogis should be National Pierogi Day — but it isn’t. If pierogis are your thing, I don’t think there’s any reason you can’t celebrate both days.
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