The Monday after Easter, also known for most Polish people as “Smigus-Dyngus” (“shming-oos-ding-oos) or “Lany Poniedzialek.”

First time I heard about this holiday, I was maybe, 6 or 7 years old. I was distracted by playing with my cool-at-the-time Polly Pocket dolls when my father snuck up behind me and poured a glass of water down my back. I turned around and wanted revenge. I grabbed a glass of water, I started splashing him with it. Ever since then, I made sure to be aware and come up with creative ways to approach this holiday.

Be Wet, and Get Others Wet Too

According to theSpruce.com, “Smigus refers to the drenching and switching aspect of the holiday, and dyngus refers to the pranks that are played.” The goal is to spray each other with water regardless of what way you do it. It can be with water balloons, squirt guns, a bucket of water or even a glass of water. According to my mother, the idea that if a girl wasn’t sprayed with water she would never get married. Usually, girls get their revenge on the boys and spray them with water as well.

In my family, we take it a step further and we add the aspect of anticipation of who’s going to spray who first. I’ve woken up many times to being splashed with water, yet there were also times where I would wait for the most unexpected moment to splash my friends and family members who were distracted with other tasks that it simply escaped their mind to splash me first.

History

According to thegenealogyassistant.com, that there are various origin stories of this holiday. Some claim that it was a sign of luck, “some say it was a pagan ritual and that the pouring of water symbolized springtime to cleanse and purify,” “others who think that Dyngus represented renewal of the sacrament of baptism after Christ had risen,” and “the third theory suggests that Dyngus is connected with Prince Mieszko the First who was baptized in 966 on Easter Monday.” (thegenealogyassistant.com)

Splash with Caution

Not everyone is aware of this holiday, so some might not be as amused by it either; therefore, be carefully who you splash with water. Make sure that when you spray the person with water, you do it in an area that is not near electronic or valuable devices.

Although, the stories of origin vary, the result is the same; everyone is soaking wet, and everyone (hopefully) had a good time spraying each other with water. I’d recommend everyone to ‘try this holiday’ on this year’s Easter Monday, but to take into account the previous given warnings, and splash with caution.