I’d be remiss if I didn’t wish all of PopFi’s readers a Happy Dyngus Day! Err, wait… what’s Dyngus Day? Apparently, it’s the traditional Polish holiday celebrated on Easter Monday in which folks take to the streets for parades, eat sausage, listen to polka, hit one another with pussy willow branches, and sprinkle the opposite sex with water. Kind of like a weirder version of St. Patrick’s Day, I guess. Find out all about the traditions of Dyngus Day at Buffalo’s Dyngus Day website.
What started out as a celebration of the beginning of spring and the ending of Lent (as well as a matchmaking event) has now become a celebration of Polish culture, food, and traditions. After denying yourself for 40 days, it’s only natural that you go a little wild. Given that I love goulash, any excuse to indulge on food is a good one.
It’s just the other traditional Dyngus Day activities I’m not so sure about, especially chasing women through the street with a bunch of tree branches. Those Polish sure are crazy!
Tags: holidays, unusual holidays, Easter Monday, Dyngus day, Dingus Day, Polish holiday, odd traditions