What is Dyngus Day? What to know about the Polish celebration and how to celebrate it

Chad Murphy, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read

Grab a pierogi, blast the polka and grab a bucket or squirt gun -- it's Dyngus Day!

Wait, what?

Śmigus-Dyngus, also known as lany poniedziałek or Wet Monday, is a Polish tradition on Easter Monday. And Cleveland has a large celebration.

Here's what to know.

Roll out the barrel! Akron residents share how to celebrate Dyngus Day

What is Dyngus Day in Cleveland?

This year marks the 12th anniversary of Cleveland Dyngus Day, held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. The goal is to not only make it a Polish cultural festival, but also to celebrate Cleveland's polka heritage as well as the other Eastern European cultures still thriving in the city, organizers say.

This year, the festival is shutting down several blocks of Detroit Avenue and hosting entertainment on two stages along with food stalls and beer vendors. The day also features the Miss Dyngus competition and a pierogi-eating contest. Organizers say an estimated 45,000 people turned out in 2023.

Marlene Thompson, left, Ms. Dyngas Day 2018 and her sister Erika Thompson, Ms. Dyngas Day 2021 stand in front of the Polish American Club in Akron.
Marlene Thompson, left, Ms. Dyngas Day 2018 and her sister Erika Thompson, Ms. Dyngas Day 2021 stand in front of the Polish American Club in Akron.

What is Dyngus Day? How did it start?

Dyngus Day — not to be confused with dingus day, which is likely a favorite celebration for "The Simpsons" character Nelson Muntz — is a Polish tradition that involves people throwing copious amounts of water on each other, according to culture.pl. It most likely dates back to the 14th century. Similar traditions can be found around Central and Eastern Europe.

Although its exact origins have yet to be established, the most commonly known story is this: On Easter Monday, boys in the countryside would drench girls with water and smack them with branches of pussy willow. It was usually meant as a way to show their affection, the site says, and likely resulted in some marriages.

Today, Śmigus-Dyngus is a part of Easter festivities in Poland. No longer just for boys and girls, Śmigus-Dyngus has become a free-for-all, the site says, with water guns, water bottles, water balloons from above, and more. In some cases, even fire trucks have been known to join in the festivities.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: What is Dyngus Day? Cleveland festival celebrates Polish tradition