There's Nothing Better Than This Epic Festival In Buffalo
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Samantha Gill
Author
Get ready, Buffalo! The only thing better than the arrival of spring weather in Western New York is the start of festival season. Buffalonians and people around the globe anxiously await the day after Easter for one reason and one reason only: Dyngus Day. Read on to see how Buffalo earned our title as the Dyngus Day Capital of the World, and mark your calendars for the Monday after Easter to join in on the fun!
Dyngus Day is a Polish-Amerian tradition that takes place on the Monday after Easter. The holiday is set to celebrate the end of the lenten season with a day of celebration (and, more recently, an excuse for Buffalonians to throw a massive party)!
You don't have to be Polish to partake in the festivities. In Buffalo, everyone's Polish on Dyngus Day! Tens of thousands of people flock to the Dyngus Day Festival each year to join the celebrations.
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Even the kids take to the streets to celebrate Dyngus Day in Buffalo. From tiny dancers to children joining in the water wars, Dyngus Day is a mainly family-friendly event. (Just keep the kids away from the beer tents!)
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FIRE! What's with the water at the Dyngus Day Festival? In ancient times, Polish men used water to attract women. Buffalo is home to the largest Dyngus Day "squirt gun" in America, pictured here!
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Another Dyngus Day tradition is "tapping" people with pussy willows. Along with using water, Polish men also used to hit girls on the legs with pussy willow branches to get their attention. How endearing... ?
The Dyngus Day Festival has several draws, and live polka music is definitely one of them! Whether you hear the bands from passing trucks or see them strolling through the streets, there's no shortage of traditional Polish tunes filling the air on Dyngus Day!
Join the Dyngus Day Parade and see who has the best float this year! People decorate their vehicles with everything from traditional red and white decor to pink flamingos. And be prepared to get wet! Firetrucks with hoses squirting are regulars at the parade!
If you want to get a good glimpse at the festivities, you should wait at the Pussywillow Park Party Tent on Memorial Drive, the Broadway Market on Broadway, or at St. Stanislaus Social Center on Peckham.
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Buffalo is recognized as the Dyngus Day Capital of the World, and you bet your dupa we're proud of it! While Dyngus Day always takes place on the Monday after Easter, the celebrations in Buffalo don't stop there. Dyngus Day is a week-long celebration in WNY with a plethora of activities to enjoy.
What are some of your favorite Dyngus Day memories? Let us know in the comment section below!
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