Legend has it that in the 13th century, a Polish priest, now St. Jacek Odrowąż going on a mission to Kievan Rus encountered swamps and lost his horse. Hungry and thirsty, he went to the nearest village, where he met harvesters and asked for help. The harvesters watered him, but had nothing to eat. St. Jacek instructed them to prepare flour, cottage cheese, cabbage leaves and mushrooms. The villagers did everything the saint told them to do: they made dumplings, half were boiled and half were baked and placed in St. Jack's bowl. All the villagers were invited to the feast. It was considered a miracle that a dish could be made from the products available in the village. The priest himself was so delighted with the dish that he decided to bring it with him to Poland. Over time, however, pierogi became one of the most popular dishes in Poland, and it remains so today. Pierogi are famous for their variety-they can be with meat and vegetable fillings, from yeast dough, with fruit, dry and sweet. Some say that the name "pierogi" comes from the Old Slavic word "pir" meaning feast, party, merry gathering. Every year around August 17, the Pierogi Festival is held in the Little Market Square in Krakow, as in other Polish cities. This is the day on which, the Catholic Church just remembers Saint Jacek Odrowąż. The creators of the best pierogi at the festival are awarded the St. Jack statuette each year.