#dyngus

Easter Week in Wrocław, Poland, 1970s.

Śmierguśnicy, Poland, 1960s.

‘Śmierguśnicy*’, who might be called ‘Easter carolers’ or ‘spring carolers’, are ritual groups of dressed-up people who walk from house to house in order to pour water on people on the Easter Monday, and ask for small treats in return (for example pisanki - the decorated eggs). The custom survived in various regions across Poland, notably around villages of Wilamowice and Limanowa. This tradition bears traces to old Slavic customs of ritual purification for the beginning of spring.

Other local names:  ‘śmiguśnioki’, ‘dziady śmigustne’, ‘siwki’

Polish custom of Śmigus-Dyngus on the Easter Monday: pouring water on people is a remnant of old-Slavic rites of purification for the beginning of spring.

‘Śmiguśnioki’ from Limanowa, Poland.

This is an old tradition still observed in some parts of Poland under different names, a part of a broader custom that might be compared to a notion of Slavic spring caroling. The ritual groups of people dressed up in symbolic clothing are walking from house to house in order to pour water on people on the Easter Monday, and they ask for small treats in return (for example pisanki - the decorated eggs). The custom is still present across whole Poland in a simplified form as the Śmigus Dyngus Day. This tradition bears traces to old Slavic customs of ritual purification for the beginning of spring where the pouring of water was originally meant to evoke fertility and ensure health for the rest of the year.

See other examples of the local costumes under my tag dziady śmigustne.

‘Śmiguśnioki’ from Limanowa, Poland.

This is an old tradition still observed in some parts of Poland under different names, a part of a broader custom that might be compared to a notion of Slavic spring caroling. The ritual groups of people dressed up in symbolic clothing are walking from house to house in order to pour water on people on the Easter Monday, and they ask for small treats in return (for example pisanki - the decorated eggs). The custom is still present across whole Poland in a simplified form as the Śmigus Dyngus Day. This tradition bears traces to old Slavic customs of ritual purification for the beginning of spring where the pouring of water was originally meant to evoke fertility and ensure health for the rest of the year.

See other examples of the local costumes under my tag dziady śmigustne.

Easter Monday is called as Dyngus Day amongst Polish Americans. Many rituals take place on this special day which is so much full of fun. Celebrate this day with your family and friends by wishing them with fun-filled Happy Dyngus Day greetings and unique Dyngus quotes and sayings. Wish one and wish all with Happy Dyngus Day wishes.

In this post, we bring to you the wonderful Happy Dyngus Day…