What is Dyngus Day?

here's a pussy willow primer

So, how do you explain to

someone that has never expe-

rienced a true Buffalo Dyngus

Day, or felt the saturated sting

of a wet furry twig, that every

year, on the day after Easter,

people of all ages and from ev-

ery walk of life actually chase

one another while brandishing

pussy willow branches, trying

to swat each other to show

their affection, then recipro-

cating that pursuit by dousing

the other person with water?

While keeping a straight face

that is.

Well, it’s really quite simple.

Just picture Fat Tuesday on the

other end of Lent. It’s basically

just a party signifying the end of

Lent on the day after Easter, as

opposed to the day before lent

starts on Ash Wednesday. The

ancient roots of the post Lent-

en celebration known as Dyn-

gus Day had their start in pagan

sun worship rituals signifying

the beginning of the growing

season but over the centuries,

those rituals have evolved into

a whole different experience.

Especially in Buffalo, NY.

Historically a Polish-Amer-

ican tradition, Smigus-Dingus

or as we call it, Dyngus Day,

celebrates the end of the often

restrictive observance of Lent

and the joy of Easter. Over the

decades, here in Western New

York, Dyngus Day has become

a wonderful holiday to cele-

brate Polish-American culture,

heritage and traditions.

There are many stories that

attempt to explain the origins

of the day. As mentioned, many

Polish religious customs date

back to pre-Christian, Slavic

practices. The custom of pour-

ing water is an ancient spring

rite of cleansing, purification,

and fertility. Since 966 A.D.,

Dyngus Day has been associat-

ed with the baptism of Prince

Mieszko I. Tradition states that

Prince Mieszko I along with his

court were baptized on Eas-

ter Monday when he adopted

Christianity as the national re-

ligion of Poland. 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 Po-

land was baptized into Christi-

anity, 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 custom-

ary to throw water and hit the

girls on their legs with twigs

or pussy willow branches, co-

logne was used instead of wa-

ter by the more gallant lads.

The ladies would reciprocate

by throwing dishes & crockery

and Tuesday was their day of

revenge, imitating the same

tactics. These days of course

they would most likely be ar-

rested for such frivolity.

Where is Dyngus Day Celebrated?

Buffalo, NY is officially

the Dyngus Day capital of the

World, hosting the largest con-

centration of festival locations,

folk dancers, polka bands and

Polish traditions in the nation.

Although the custom of such a

quirky post Lenten celebration

is based in Polish tradition,

this city, situated on the south

eastern shores of Lake Erie,

has not only embraced this an-

cient custom we have made it

our own. Some smaller events

have been exported from Buf-

falo into other communities

where Polish-Americans have

settled however there is no

dispute that if you truly want

to Dyngus properly there is no

other place than Buffalo to do

so. Ironically, it’s not widely

observed in Poland. But we’re

working on it.

Pussy Willows or Water?

This is a yearly debate

among Dyngus Day revelers.

The tradition holds that on

Easter Monday boys would

sprinkle the girls with water

and tap them with pussy wil-

lows. On Easter Tuesday, the

women would return the favor.

However at modern Dyngus

Day parties it is common prac-

tice that both men and wom-

en trade water splashing and

pussy willow spanking equally.

Why use pussy willows?

Pussy willows play a ma-

jor part in Buffalo’s Dyngus

Day celebrations as men and

women flirt with playful “taps.”

Branches of the plant are used,

as the pussy willow is one of

the first “budding” plants of

spring. This like the use of wa-

ter is directly related to the

emerging “life” associated

with a new growing season.