National Pierogi Day 2026
Boil, pan-fry, and pile on the butter for National Pierogi Day! These filled dumplings — potato and cheese, sauerkraut, meat, fruit — traveled with Eastern European immigrants and became a U.S. comfort classic, especially in Pennsylvania’s coal region and Midwest church kitchens.
About National Pierogi Day
History & origins
National Pierogi Day falls on October 8. Mrs. T’s Pierogies (Ateeco, Inc.), based in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, established the day in 2008. The company chose October 8 to mark the anniversary of founder Ted Twardzik Sr.’s first grocery-store sale of his mother’s pierogi in Shenandoah in 1952. He named the brand for his mother, Mary Twardzik — the “Mrs. T.” Mrs. T’s often spells the product “pierogy”; both spellings refer to the same dumpling tradition.
Pierogi (also pierogy, pyrohy, and related forms) are boiled dumplings of unleavened dough with savory or sweet fillings, rooted in Polish and other Central and Eastern European cooking. Immigrant communities carried them to American church festivals, delis, and home tables long before a frozen brand or a calendar day existed. The food day is a company-backed U.S. observance of that dish, not a government holiday.
Why it matters
Pierogi are a concrete piece of immigrant food history you can eat with a fork. The day is a chance to cook a family recipe, support a local church sale, or notice that a supermarket box sits on top of a much older dumpling craft.
How to celebrate
Boil pierogi and finish them in a skillet with butter and onions. Make a batch from scratch if you have time. Visit a Polish, Ukrainian, or Slovak bakery or church festival. Try both savory and sweet fillings. If you buy frozen, pan-fry them properly so the edges crisp.
Facts
- Mrs. T’s Pierogies established National Pierogi Day in 2008
- October 8 marks Ted Twardzik Sr.’s first 1952 grocery sale in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
- The brand honors his mother, Mary Twardzik
- Pierogi are filled dumplings with deep Central and Eastern European roots
- The day is a food observance, not a U.S. federal holiday
Upcoming dates
- Thursday, October 8, 2026
- Friday, October 8, 2027
- Sunday, October 8, 2028
- Monday, October 8, 2029
- Tuesday, October 8, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is National Pierogi Day in 2026?
National Pierogi Day in 2026 falls on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Is today National Pierogi Day?
No. National Pierogi Day in 2026 falls on Thursday, October 8, 2026, not today.
What is National Pierogi Day?
It is a U.S. food observance for pierogi — boiled, often pan-fried dumplings with savory or sweet fillings — popularized in American communities with Central and Eastern European roots.
Who started National Pierogi Day?
Mrs. T’s Pierogies founded the day in 2008, tying it to the company’s first 1952 sale in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.
How do you celebrate National Pierogi Day?
Cook pierogi with butter and onions, make them from scratch, or buy from a bakery or church sale that still pinches dough by hand.
Is National Pierogi Day an official holiday?
No. It is not a U.S. federal holiday. Offices and schools follow their usual schedules. It is a food calendar date promoted by a pierogi maker and fans of the dish.
Share
Help others discover this day by sharing it.