On the Monday after Easter this year, Buffalo residents gathered to celebrate the end of Lent with a Polish Holiday known as Dyngus Day — Smigus Dyngus in its original language, or in some cases “Wet Monday.”
While the name sounds fictional, and the traditions surrounding it all more absurd than the next. The festival is based on a Christian holiday that has existed for hundreds of years Few cities indulge in the festivities of Dyngus Day, but given Buffalo’s large Polish population, it is one of the few metropolises, aside from Cleveland or South Bend, where people can expect to find Dyngus Day celebrations. Indeed, Buffalo is often credited as “the Dyngus Day capital of the world.”
The Monday celebration is ushered in by a parade near the Broadway Market downtown, which involves both parade viewers and float participants spraying each other with water guns. This water tradition has many possible origins, like the baptism of a king of Poland, or simply as a celebration of the arrival of spring. Additionally, many participants slap each other with pussy willows.
The parade includes a variety of eccentric floats, where bystanders will be struck with more than just the traditional candy and beads. While an onlooker is being pelted with pussy willows and Nerf gun water, they might also have small boxes of Cheerios chucked at them from the General Mills Cereal float — made to promote the local factory. If that wasn’t enough, there is often a vehicle in the parade deemed “The Kiel-Bus-A” that tosses Polish sausage at parade viewers; a name that references Polish cuisine.
Following the parade, festivities are held throughout the night in a number of venues. Traditional and contemporary Polka concerts feature local bands like “Those Idiots” who play Polka song covers such as “Polka Face.”
Around the city, people wear red to pay homage to the flag of Poland with quirky pro-Polonia t-shirts such as “It’s not a party until the kielbasa comes out,” or “You bet your dupa I’m Polish,” — or the alternate “0% Polish.”
The Broadway Market offers even more immersion into Polish culture in Buffalo. Leading up to Easter and Dyngus Day, vendors sell a wide variety of food and merchandise that pays homage to both Buffalo and Poland; expect to sample foods such as pierogi, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and foreign beer.
Even if someone is not of Polish origin, the saying goes that “everyone is Polish on Dyngus Day.” All, except perhaps CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper, who issued an apology after being met with Buffalo backlash after giggling profusely when reporting on the holiday on live television. All others can expect Polish food, traditional music, unusual customs and nonstop fun on Dyngus Day.
Nadia is an assistant arts editor and can be reached at nadia.brach@ubspectrum.com
