Monday, April 13, 2009

Dyngus Day, Easter Monday

Well we are all full of good food, much chocolate and cake and good spirits. So just when you think the Poles are finished celebrating, I come up with Dyngus Day. Yes, Dyngus Day. Dyngus Day is celebrated on Easter Monday, boys/men sprinkle girls/women or douse them with water. Now it's not just any boys sprinkling any girl, it's a favorite. So the girl that changes her clothes most frequently on that day wins the popularity contest. This was started in small villages and towns many years ago, my mother claimed that the more well to do sprinkled with perfumes, and of coarse the boy of choice would be rewarded with a beautifully decorated egg. TODAY, yes today my husband is off to Dyngus Day Celebrations, wait till the girl who douses him finds about the in-services he needs, gets and keeps failing. In the U.S. and Poland still, Dyngus Day is celebrated with dances and feasting. Much like St. Patrick's Day only no parade, that I know of. I don't do Dyngus day. I find that after our activities of Holy Week, I love the quiet of Monday. When my children were little and off school, we would enjoy all their treats and some quiet time together. Now that they are men they are off to school/work. I'll visit with my mom and have a nice day as well. If you watch the Buffalo News at 11p.m. tonight you'll get a report on the fun being had on Dyngus Day, and perhaps a glimpse of my husband dancing by/or standing at the bar. I believe the original reason was not only a courtship event but the drowning of winter. We've evolved I guess, now we don't sprinkle, we text. Have a good one.

5 comments:

Leslie Jane Moran said...

Happy Dyngus Day to you all! Good grief, I don't know wether to say "Keep Dry" or not!?

Eat up all those goodies as the challenge begins again in earnest soon!

Marie Reed said...

Wow! That is just fascinating. I certainly want the winter drowned out!

Annette said...

how fun!!!!!!! I use to get mad when I was younger and throw my beer at the men in the bars, not the same uh?I love to hear about fun things like this, I wish I could have gotten your news here cause I'd diffidently of watched it! but I'm like you...I like quietness. Have a great day my friend!
Hugs~
Annette

Jeanne said...

Do you remember when the Dynatones used to have a dance every Dyngus Day in Buffalo?

Jeanne said...

Told you I'm Polish too. Have spent many an evening dancing to the Dynatones or many other Polka bands. My husband used to play with Happy Louis, Heavy Chicago, and Polka Country Musicians among other bands.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to my wonderful son,  it's bee 33wonderful years. Hope this year proves to be the best yet.