Dyngus Day in the Square

By: Jon Clucas

In a country where George W. Bush was President for the first twenty days this year, we are certainly all aware of Easter Sunday, if not familiar with the traditions of dying hard-boiled eggs, eating chocolate rabbits, and going to church to celebrate the Eternal Resurrection of Christ Jesus of Nazareth. Easter Monday also has traditions, though. Traditions which are much less familiar than the Easter Sunday traditions. Also known as Dyngus Day, the day after Easter is a day that has long been celebrated in Poland by dousing significant others (or friends, or strangers) with water in honor of the god Dyngus.

The Polish Dyngus Day tradition is also practiced outside of Poland. In the United States, Dyngus Day is particularly popular in Buffalo, New York and South Bend, Indiana. Democratic politicians often celebrate Dyngus Day in South Bend to start the primary season. Notable Presidential candidates who have done so include Bobby Kennedy and Bill Clinton.

This year, Dyngus Day falls on April 13. If you are not fully satisfied with your April Fool's Day, you might try the Dyngus Day tradition of dousing someone in the southeast square with a bucket of water on the day after Easter!