What is the Easter tradition Smingus Dingus?
In Poland, Easter Monday is Smingus-Dyngus Day when boys try to drench girls with buckets of water, squirt guns, whatever’s available. In some towns, they use twigs to switch the girls. The tradition has it if a girl receives a drenching or switching, she will marry within the year. I imagine more than one young lady with marriage on her mind allowed herself to be caught! This somewhat bizarre practice has the commemoration of the birth of Christianity and the baptism of Prince Mieszko in 966 A.D. on Easter Monday at its core. The soaking tradition is kept alive in many American towns, most notably Buffalo, N.Y., where a festival is built around it. And not only are females on the receiving end, turnabout is fair play with everybody dousing everybody else! If getting soaked to the skin isn’t your idea of fun, try celebrating with a Smingus-Dyngus Casserole. The dish is decidedly of American origin and it’s not clear how it got its name. Perhaps because it’s served on Easter Monday with
Śmingus Dyngus (an Easter Monday tradition which exists to this day). Every Polish person remembers those Easter Mondays when they would lie in bed and their friends or family poured water on them. The greatest victory was catching someone in bed, unconsciously awaiting their watery surprise! But another great part of the day was going to church or visiting relatives – getting together in groups with buckets and water pistols, making sure that no one missed out on a soaking! Those who got thoroughly drenched were those who would be blessed with good fortune. They would be cleansed of all evils and illnesses. Smingus Dyngus was first mentioned in the 15th century. Back then there were two separate customs: during ‘śmingus’ men would pour water on the women and beat their bare legs. During ‘dyngus’, on the other hand, people would go round asking for donations. During the ‘dyngus’ tradition all whippings were banned. The tradition of pouring water on people on Easter Monday is a custom w
Here is some information from about.com on the subject of the Polish tradition of ‘Smingus-Dyngus’. In Poland, Easter Monday is Smingus-Dyngus Day when boys try to drench girls with buckets of water, squirt guns, whatever’s available. In some towns, they use twigs to switch the girls. The tradition has it if a girl receives a drenching or switching, she will marry within the year. I imagine more than one young lady with marriage on her mind allowed herself to be caught! This somewhat bizarre practice has the commemoration of the birth of Christianity and the baptism of Prince Mieszko in 966 A.D. on Easter Monday at its core. The soaking tradition is kept alive in many American towns, most notably Buffalo, N.Y., where a festival is built around it. And not only are females on the receiving end, turnabout is fair play with everybody dousing everybody else! If getting soaked to the skin isn’t your idea of fun, try celebrating with a Smingus-Dy
