In the case of the Annual Dyngus Day Parade, here in Buffalo’s Historic Polonia District, it’s more of a demonstration in civic and ethnic pride. Unlike any other event in recent memory, this parade gathers people together with a sense of camaraderie and joy mixed with nostalgia and hope. An acknowledgement of who they are, where they came from and where they want to go. What started out as a rag tag group of passionate Poles with a few flags, a couple of pickup trucks and a band on a trailer, has turned into a big splash of Polish pride surfing a sea of red and white. Floats resembling medieval ships, fire trucks with sirens blazing and hoses squirting, polka bands blaring and families sharing memories and laughter as they stroll through the neighborhood tossing candy and beads to the little urchins gathered on the curbs. Who doesn’t like a parade? Not anyone that has ever been to the Dyngus Day Parade in Buffalo NY, that’s for sure.

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