Śmigus-dyngus
Śmigus-dyngus (pronunciation: SHMEE-goose-DING-goose) is a celebration which takes place on Easter Monday (also called Wet Monday) in Poland and some other European countries (Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia). Traditionally, boys throw water over girls and spank them with pussy willow branches on Easter Monday, and girls do the same to boys on Easter Tuesday.
Okey, but let's start from the beginning. In the past śmigus-dyngus was two separte traditions. Dyngus has its origins from spring tradition of visiting your family and friends combined with a small meal. Part of the visits were folk and religious songs. A funny fact is that if the guests were not treated in an appropriate way, they were allowed to make jokes to the hosts. The main point of śmigus was a symbolic beating of legs with pussy willows and watering others with cold water. The purpose of this tradition was spring cleansing from dirt, diseases and sin. Slavs also believed that watering was supposed to promote fertility. This is the main reason why the girls were the main "victims". What's more, the ritual of watering sometimes also had a matrimonial character. It was a significant activity because the lack of śmigus meant the lack of interest from the bachelors and the perspective of spinsterhood. Whereas, a man who managed to throw water over many girls as well as beat them with pussy willows could receive more interest from the gentle sex. Even though the girls should wait one day to get their revenge by soaking the boys, in practice both sexes throw water over each other on the same day.
An interesting part of śmigus-dyngus traditiona is that in the past boys and girls were also singing songs in order to convey good wishes and requests for gifts and food. Depending on the gender the songs were different:
BOYS:
"Your duck has told me
That you've baked a cake
Your hen has told me
She's laid you a basket and a half of eggs
Your sow has told me that you've killed her son
If not her son then her little daughter
Give me something if only a bit of her fat
Who will not be generous today
Let him not count on heaven"
"Our green little tree, beautifully decked
Goes everywhere
For it is proper that it should
We go with it to the manor house
Wishing good fortune, good health
For this new year
Which God has given us"
The two traditions become one and today is known as śmigus-dyngus. and it's only focused on throwing water over other people. Wet Monday is one of those a few days when you can feel like children again. There is nothing wrong with getting up that day a bit earlier and organize a wet surprise for the beloved ones. After all, we do it because we wish good life for them. However, in the case of a failure of our wet plan, we should also prepare a good escape plan. Otherwise we can end up being soaked chickens. But well - no risk no fun!
We don't know how about you but we Y4M has already finished the preparations and is ready with water pistols so be aware!
Beata Jaranowska
