April 17th – Dyngus Day (also known as Wet Monday) celebrates the end of Lent and the joy of Easter. “Dyngus” comes from a medieval Polish word for “worthy, proper.” Over the decades, the day has become a wonderful way to celebrate Polish-American culture, heritage and traditions. With the largest concentration of festival locations, live polka music and authentic traditions, Buffalo, NY, is the “Dyngus Day Capital of the World!” Many parties begin during the mid-morning with a large buffet of traditional Easter foods (kielbasa, ham, fresh breads, eggs).
The most important tradition of Dyngus Day is the exchange of pussy willow branches and water as a playful form of flirting. Men and women tap each other with the pussy willows and squirt each other with water to attract attention. Annually, the Monday after Easter.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com user pixel2013.
