DyngusDay_1April13_065ef100      I've decided to share a little piece of my heritage this week.  With Murzynski's (paternal) and Sierputowski's (maternal) on either side of my family tree there is no doubt that I have Polish American blood running through my veins.  The only thing I am really lacking is full mastery of the Polish language (which I'm working on) and a Polish birth certificate (can't do much about). 

      So you might be asking yourself what exactly is Dyngus Day.  Well I've come across a variety of descriptions for this day of celebration.  My dad has described it as a time in the old neighborhood on the Monday after Easter, when the boys would throw water (buckets, water balloons, squirt guns etc) at the girls and even tap the girls, they were fond of, with pussy willows.  He wasn't quite sure of how it all start though.  So, I did some further research and found similar descriptions with a bit more detail.   In the Plain Dealer this past Saturday, "Dyngus Day" was described as 'an ancient Polish spring tradition also known as "Wet Monday." On the day after Easter back in the old country, the girls whipped the boys with pussy-willow branches and the boys squirted water on the girls. This pagan fertility ritual was followed by music, merriment, drinking and dancing.'

     Another source I found went even further into this day's history.  It stated that, 'Since 966 A.D. these activities were symbolic of 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 of Easter Monday is actually the day for boys in Poland to attract notice from the girls of their choice.  It was custom for them to throw water and hit the girls on their legs with twigs or pussy willows.  The ladies would reciprocate by throwing dishes & crockery on Tuesday which was their day of revenge, imitating the same tactics."    Even more Dyngus Day details can be found at the following link, Dyngus Day.

     Now no dishes or crockery were thrown (ouch), but on this past April 1st water guns and pussy willows were definitely in abundance during the 3rd annual Cleveland Dyngus Day festivities.  It has ultimately turned into a day to celebrate spring and the Polish heritage in Cleveland, and as an old polka lyric goes "Everyone's Polish on Dyngus Day"!  So even though Cleveland's Dyngus Day celebration is still in it's infancy, nowhere near Buffalo's tradition, it's getting stronger and gaining steam each year.  If you're up for a good time I would recommend checking out next year's festivities.  You surely will not be disappointed, especially if you're looking for pierogies, polka music, and piwo (beer).  All are abundantly present, check out the link, Cleveland Dyngus Day, to see the fun you missed this year, along with finding more info for next year's festivities.       

     Lastly, I can not forget to mention how extremely proud I am of my sister, Michelle, for being in the running for Ms. Dyngus Day this year.  She didn't get the crown but was one of six finalists out of 100's of entries.  Not to mention that she looked adorable in our Babci's (grandma's) authentic Polish outfit.  

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Sto lat (a hundred years) and Na zdrowie (to health)!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you've imagined." H.D. Thoreau