Or, the Night (Nacht) before the Fast (Fast)
is celebrated in German cultures.
American Germans celebrate it
the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
That will always be on a Tuesday.
My husband's family
operates a German bakery in Philadelphia,
Haegele's Bakery.
And Fastnacht Day is a big deal.
Several news venues cover the event
at Haegele's Bakery each year.
In fact it is so popular,
that the bakery opens on the Monday before Fastnacht Day
to help alleviate the lines on Tuesday.
The Fastnachts made at Haegele's
are diamond shaped and covered in sugar.
Haegele's Fastnachts are handmade entirely from scratch!
Below, Aaron Haegele coats donuts in sugar.
Then two donuts are tapped together to remove the excess sugar.
He is assisted by his Great-Uncle Erich Haegele.
Erich and his brother, Richard, have been doing this
for over half a century
since they were children.
That's a lot of Fastnachts.
The Bakery was started in 1930
by the brother's German parents,
August and Helen Haegele.
It is still going strong today.
And one thing I love...besides the dirndls the ladies wear,
they still box your items and tie the box up with string...
just like the old days.
Now if you'll excuse me,
there is a Fastnacht waiting for me.
More bakery photos can be viewed
here.
Haegele's Bakery
Glen and Cheryl Haegele
4164 Barnett Street
Philadelphia, PA 19135
215-624-0117
http://www.haegelesbakery.com/
Be sure to read about
Washington Cake too!
