Fat Tuesday is here, and bakeries across West Michigan are busy filling paczki orders as customers rush to get their hands on the traditional Polish treat. ()

A food that many have come to know and love and consume once a year enjoys its time in the spotlight today. The paczek, plural paczki, is an ultra-rich pastry that is associated with Fat Tuesday at local bakeries.

Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, marks the final day of indulgence before the season of Lent begins in many Christian traditions. It is the day before Ash Wednesday, which kicks off a season of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter.