The end of carnival, meaning the revelries and balls coming right after the New Year's Day, falls this year on Tuesday, February 5.

According to the Polish tradition, it was preceded by the Shrove Week, the season of enormous gluttony and dissipated entertainment. The only tradition to survive to the present moment is Shrove Thursday, i.e. the last Thursday before Lent. On this day the confectioners sell huge numbers of doughnuts. Doughnuts are spherical yeast cakes fried in deep fat and stuffed with jam. Although they are very caloric and fattening, everybody has to taste them.
The carnival ends with Podkoziołek, meaning the party on the Tuesday evening immediately preceding Ash Wednesday. Depending on the region of Poland, traditional dishes, fat meats or bigos (i.e. sauerkraut with meat and mushrooms) are prepared on this day. According to the Podkoziołek tradition, the party should stop at midnight.
After carnival comes the 40-day-long Lent which is the preparatory season for the Easter holidays. Even now in the depths of Poland, especially in the villages, the parties and weddings stop.