Vintage easter postcard showing smigus dyngus in a village of the krakow. Dyngus day also known as lany poniedzialek and dingus day in many polish american communities is a holiday that falls on the monday immediately after easter sunday. This is accompanied by a number of other rituals, such as making verse declarations and. Dyngus day, the annual postlenten bash, attracts tens of thousands to buffalo, new york to celebrate spring, show polish pride, flirt with pussy willows and listen to the best polka bands in the nation. Dyngus day or wet monday polish smigusdyngus or lany poniedzialek is the name for easter monday in poland. Some people say that by being splashed with water on easter monday will bring you good luck throughout the year. Dyngus day also spelled dingus day, is a fun polish. Its also called smigus dyngus, which is the name of an old custom in poland whereby boys soak girls with water and hit them with pussy willow branches.
Some people say that by being splashed with water on easter. And a merry smigusdyngus to you april 6, 2015 april 11, 2015 travelbug smigusdyngus day is a holiday celebrated all over poland and other slavic countries to celebrate the good ole pagan traditions of boys throwing water on girls and smacking them with pussy willow branches. Although the holiday is probably prechristian so over years old it has remained strong in poland. Listen to the audio pronunciation of smigusdyngus on pronouncekiwi. This easy casserole of american origin is a great way to use up smoked sausage and sauerkraut from easter dinner. The young people break the solemnity of easter by a burst of frivolity. Smigus polish childrens songs poland mama lisas world.
During smigus dyngus people all over poland might get water thrown on them. It is postulated that dyngus day is associated by the baptism of mieszko i, the creator of the polish state when poland became. Throughout the centuries polish boys have employed a variety of methods to wet the girls, from dunking them in a stream or water trough, to splashing them with water carried in a can, bucket, or other device. Nprs melissa block talks with mark kohan, editor in chief of the polishamerican journal, about the polish holiday of smigus dyngus better. Easter monday in poland smigusdyngus missions in europe. Smigus dyngus, also called lany poniedzialek wet monday.
On this day boys wander around with buckets of water and water pistols in order throw or sprinkle water on any girls they can find. And you better believe we celebrated it in this house. Its a time children look forward to with excitement, though some adults especially those without a. Polish lads also drenched girls with water on easter monday, a holiday known as smigus or dyngus, or as dyngus day to many polish americans. Easter monday pagan tradition dates back 1,000 years duration. Lets first take a look at the way it is celebrated in poland and then see how it evolved in america. A brief history of dyngus day in poland culture trip. The defining element of the modern celebration of smigusdyngus is.
Like their italian neighbors, the polish save their most notable tradition for the day after easter. Evidently, its celebrated in czech republic, slovakia. The wet monday smigusdyngus in polish is also known as easter monday or lany poniedzialek and is a holiday in poland. Explore poland with our fun and interesting facts and scroll down for our collection of flag printables and colouring pages. Smigusdyngus is a catholic celebration held on easter monday mostly in poland, but also in the czech republic, slovakia, hungary and some parts of western ukraine. It is very popular in poland, as well as in polish communities across america. Wawel castle, krakow, poland learn about poland geography of poland the republic of poland is a large central european country with a population of 40 million. Dutch dinges, probably from german dings, from genitive of ding thing, from old high german more at thing. Smigusdyngus is a catholic celebration held on easter monday mostly in poland, but also in. If the site administrator has provided you with a temporary password system password, enter below. Typically it acts as a chance for guys to soak girls. In 2020, dyngus day will take place on monday, april th.
We hope this book will help foster a love of international childrens songs. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. I usually had to take a day off when i was in poland on smigus dyngus as it wasnt possible for me to get to the bus station dry and i was dealing with clients so i couldnt be wet. Young boys try to get girls and each other wet with water guns, buckets of.
Smigus dyngus, which is the name of an old custom in poland whereby boys soak girls. Dyngus day from the polish smigusdyngus is celebrated in the us by polishamerican communities, which makes sense that is it especially popular in a city that is as proud of its eastern european roots as cleveland. Dingus definition is an often small article whose common name is unknown or forgotten. And a merry smigusdyngus to you the krakow chronicles. The baltic coastline forms the northern border, with the carpathian mountains in the far south.
For more than 1,000 years or at least thats what most historical sources say, the folk of this great central european country have spent their easter mondays dousing unsuspecting folk in cold water. While it used to be particularly rich in tradition, it has kind of devolved in our area into throwing water at anyone and everyone who walks on the sidewalks before noon. Easter monday is also a holiday in poland involving posteaster celebrations, first of all dousing other people with water, a favourite activity of. When i told my wife about this tradition, she said, fuck off, youre making this up. Dyngus day smigus dyngus in poland and usa my polish. Dyngus day, celebrated every year on easter monday, is something of a citywide holiday in cleveland. In poland, the day after easter is called lany poniedzialek wet monday. The second notgeld with domination 20pln represents smigusdyngus also known as lany poniedzialek. Easter monday is also a holiday in poland involving posteaster celebrations, first of all dousing other people with water, a favourite activity of polish kids and teenagers. It is celebrated on the first monday after easter, and the way to celebrate is actually really fun. This is held every easter monday and is known in english as wet monday. See more ideas about dyngus day, polish and polish easter. My list of sources and book recommendations in polish only.
The genealogy assistant smigusdyngus, easter monday in. This page was last edited on 20 february 2019, at 07. Smingus dyngus or just dyngus is a traditional ritual celebrated on the first monday after easter in poland. Dyngus day in america represents an age old tradition that is believed to have been started during the early middle ages in poland, during the piast period. It has its roots in old slavic traditions of throwing water on people in rites meaning to purify them for the arrival of spring. Dyngus day commemorates a historic day during the 10th century, when mieszko i, the ruler of poland made a mass baptism all over the country with the goal of converting all citizens to christians. Just a little culture and history for you on this easter monday. Easter monday traditionally is smigus dyngus day, when everybody throws buckets of water at each other although i guess if youre from the more refined levels of polish society, you make do with a light sprinkling. Wet monday dyngus day easter monday originally celebrated in poland. Hidden camera investigation on what really happens to your car cbc marketplace duration. Login or register free and only takes a few minutes to participate in this question you will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have languagerelated jobs or are passionate about them.
Dyngus day in 20202021 when, where, why, how is celebrated. It may never really be revealed because nothing from that period has any clear printed history in poland. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Easter time in poland is full of unique traditions, but nothing stands out more for me than the socalled smigusdyngus, also known as wet monday. Smigus dyngus, also called lany poniedzialek wet monday in. Splash them with water and spank them with pussy willow reeds. It is a day that not only celebrates polish culture, but is also a day to blow off a little bit of steam after the restrictions imposed by lent. It is the traditional celebration at the end of the easter lenten season and the dietary restrictions of the season. It is also called easter monday and is a national holiday in poland. Although the exact origins of smigusdyngus have yet to be established, the most commonly known story is, that way back when, on easter.
All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. I based my notgeld on leith, an industrial area with a lot of history and. Well it doesnt look all that romantic but the monday after easter is known in many polish communities as. In poland, easter monday is known as smigusdyngus day or just dyngus day when the boys get to douse the girls with water. The history of smigusdyngus goes back to the middle ages when it was called oblewania. In the 1400s, catholic authorities tried to ban the practice, but with no luck. Everything you should know about dyngus day articles. Each easter monday, a day when many folks are still devouring the remains of the. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Smigusdyngus, easter monday in poland the genealogy assistant. Archives 20052009 life smingusdyngus polish tradition. Traditionally, boys throw water over girls and spank them with pussy willow branches on easter monday, and girls do the same to boys.
The new cambridge medieval history, however, suggests that it originated far to the west of poland and was adopted. It is also observed by polish diaspora communities, particularly among polish americans, who call it dyngus day. Smigusdyngus day is a polish tradition observed on easter monday or wet easter monday lany poniedzialek when boys douse girls with water and switch their legs with pussy willows. During our time in poland, wed heard dire warnings about smigusdyngus the day after easter. The easter season in poland ends on monday when the traditional dyngussmigus custom is observed. If youre polish, i guess youre soaked to the skin today.
Some claim customs date to prechristian practices of slavic ancestors, when people poured water on oneself in a cleansing and. Went to a catholic school, so i had a lot of polish friends growing up. Everything you should know about dyngus day historically a polish and polishamerican tradition, dyngus day celebrates the end of the often restrictive observance of lent and the joy of easter. People say that if you dont waken up early on wet monday, you will be awoken by having water poured all. Friends talked of teenage boys dousing tram passengers by tossing buckets of water on them as the doors opened at a tram stop or water balloons being dropped on. This day, also called lany poniedzialek wet monday or just dyngus, is an ancient pagan tradition celebrated in poland on the easter monday, nowadays intertwined with the christian celebrations of easter.
Smigus dyngus, dyngus day, national water fight day, wet monday. Its very popular everywhere where you can find polish people, but it has taken quite an unique form in usa. Dyngus day article about dyngus day by the free dictionary. Easter monday, as observed by polish descendants in englishspeaking countries. Dyngus day always falls on the monday after easter.
There is conflicting information as to the origin of this tradition. Thank you for helping build the largest language community on the internet. Over the decades, dyngus day has become a wonderful holiday to celebrate polishamerican culture, heritage and traditions. Smigusdyngus marks the end of the restrictive lenten season. This article is within the scope of wikiproject womens history, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of womens history and related articles on wikipedia.