Śmigus-Dyngus Day

We’re wrapping up our look at Polish Easter traditions with Śmigus-Dyngus Day. Celebrated on Easter Monday, the day after Easter, it’s also known as lany poniedziałek (Wet Monday), and among many Polish-Americans simply as Dyngus Day.

What is it? The short answer: on Śmigus-Dyngus Day folks throw water at each other. Traditionally, on Easter Monday boys would sprinkle the girls with water and tap them with pussy willows, and on Easter Tuesday the women would return the favor. In modern times, it is common for both men and women to trade water and pussy willows equally.

Similar customs can be found elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Ukraine, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia.

The origins of Śmigus-Dyngus Day are lost in the mists of time, although there are a few viable explanations. Thanks to https://www.dyngusday.com for this round-up:

Many Polish customs date back to pre-Christian, Slavic practices. The custom of pouring water is an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility. The same is true of the complimentary practice of switching with pussy willow branches. Since 966 A.D., Dyngus Day has been associated with the baptism of Prince Mieszko I. Tradition states that Prince Mieszko I along with his court were baptized on Easter Monday. Thus, Dyngus Day and its rites of sprinkling with water have become a folk celebration in thanksgiving for the fact that the first king of Poland was baptized into Christianity, bringing Catholicism to Poland. In more modern times, the tradition continued when farm boys in Poland wanted to attract notice from the girls of their choice. It was customary to throw water and hit the girls on their legs with twigs or pussy willows. Cologne was used instead of water by the more gallant lads. The ladies would reciprocate by throwing dishes & crockery and Tuesday was their day of revenge, imitating the same tactics.

 

Nowadays, in addition to buckets, water can come from water guns, water bottles, water balloons from above—in some cases, even fire trucks have been known to join in the festivities.

According to some, the girls who end up the wettest will be the first to marry.

In the U.S., many cities with large concentrations of Polish-Americans celebrate Dyngus Day. But Buffalo, NY officially claims to be the Dyngus Day capital of America, hosting the largest concentration of festival locations, polka bands and Polish traditions in the nation.

Below is a video report on 2023’s Dyngus Day parade in Buffalo thanks to WGRZ-TV, which is also posted at https://youtu.be/MYDGDek6Ltg

Even the hosts of TNT’s popular “Inside the NBA” show had fun on Dyngus Day! Hosts: Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. The video below is excerpted from the complete 2022 segment available at https://youtu.be/SGPYV32NP8s