Did you know there is a patron saint of pierogi? Saint Hyacinth is said to have introduced pierogi to Poland from what is now modern-day Ukraine. According to an old Polish saying, "Święty Jacku z pierogami!" ("Saint Hyacinth and his pierogi!"), people used to call on him for help in times of desperation.

Although pierogi have been a part of Polish cuisine since the 13th century, the first recorded recipe for them comes from the Compendium Ferculorum, a cookbook published in 1682 by the famous chef Stanisław Czerniecki. Interestingly, the original pierogi recipe did not include potatoes, as they were not commonly used in Poland during the 17th century. Instead, the filling consisted of chopped kidneys, veal fat, greens, and nutmeg.

If you've ever made pierogi from scratch, you know that it's not always an easy task. In 2019, Beata Jasek from Kraków set the Guinness Record for making pierogi by making over a thousand (1066 to be exact!) in just one hour. That's equivalent to making one pierogi every 3.4 seconds!