You may not know, and I did not until minutes ago, that today is Dyngus (or Dingus) Day. Yes. Not kidding. What is it, you ask? Well, I'll tell you!
Dingus Day falls on the Monday after Easter. With early roots in Poland, it was a way to provide merriment after the seriousness of Lent ended.
Traditionally, farm boys in Poland wanted to attract notice from the girls, or maids, they fancied. The custom was to throw water and hit the girls on their legs with twigs or pussywillows. Charming. Eventually, cologne was used instead of water by the more gallant lads. The ladies would reciprocate, and rightly so, by throwing dishes and assorted crockery on Tuesday, the day set aside for revenge of the Dingus antics.
With origins in the word"Dingnus," which means "worthy, proper, or suitable" evolving to"ransom during a war to protect against pillage," as well as a German usage of "Dingen," which means "to come to an agreement, evaluate or buy back," the day became an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility. The same is true of the complimentary practice of switching with pussy willow branches, from which Dyngus Day derives its cognomen "Smigus" -from "smiganie" -switching.
The ritual was formed around the legend of the Polish Princess Wanda, who was said to have drowned herself in the Wisla River rather than marry a German nobleman she did not love. For this reason, girls are doused with water to immortalize the memory of Princess Wanda.
Now, don't you feel edified?
2 comments:
Those are some of the most worthless factual trivia I've read all day so far.
I solute you, madam!
I am nothing if not trivial.
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