So, Dyngus Day.
So, Dyngus Day. I do not remember it being such a big deal, but I guess it has become one. Since Buffalo apparently has the largest one in the country at present, that may be why I noticed. I mean, the pussy willow and water business was something that I was familiar with because of general central European spring mating customs, but it was more of a random curiosity thing.
Anyway, there's been a concerted effort to preserve or dig up a lot of Buffalo's history and culture and there used to be a Polish community second only to Chicago (and Poland) here. Like, the Pope slept here when he was a Cardinal visiting with a group of Polish bishops and stuff. http://www.buffalonews.com/life-arts/religion/st-casimirs-catholic-church-will-open-to-the-public-a-room-where-the-future-pope-john-paul-ii-once-slept-a-room-with-a-view-to-the-past-ties-to-a-saint-20140427 . Yeah, you can visit one of the old Polish churches they saved from being torn down and see where Pope John Paul II slept.
They've been doing a lot to save and restore the old Polish neighborhoods and churches in the city. There's still a measurable ethnic community here, but it's scattered over a bunch of suburbs (Elma, Lancaster, Depew, Cheektowaga aka Cheektowarsaw). Apparently, they all got together over the last however many years and have been building up this Dyngus Day thing. It's so big, now, that they have busses that run people all over the county to the different sites, so you don't have to find parking (or drive drunk).
There's a huge parade in the city through the heart of the old Polish neighborhood with the mayor and everything, a big tent and bands, and all the traditionally Polish churches get involved, the old market is involved. It's a big deal. In fact now it really starts the evening of Easter Sunday, even though it really is supposed to be on Easter Monday. Basically, you could spend at least 12 hours traveling around Erie county drinking beer, eating Polish food, and listening to a lot of live polka bands (there's other music, too, as well as other food). Bars, clubs, restaurants, churches, parks, all sorts of locations.
The weather today was hideous (30s-40s, rain, dangerous high winds) so I decided I was not going to try for the parade, which runs about 5-6:30pm. However, the Polish church in Elma was having a polka mass at 11:30. I've been to a lot of masses because music. I even used to sometimes do music at one of the old Polish churches in Chicago, so I've been to a mass in Polish. But I've never been to a polka mass. The fact that it would be inside was a big plus today, as well.
So, yeah, they had a mini-mass with a live polka band. It was kind of like the Polish version of Sister Act, so there were a few places it was a bit incongruous. Like the bit with "... we proclaim your death ..." It was the perkiest Sanctus ever, though, and man, they really moved it along during communion. Forget all those contemplative, touchy-feely tunes. Polka really speeds up communion! Plus, I've never seen a priest who was so enthusiastic. I mean, he was practically Baptist revival enthusiastic. There was also clapping for the band in a couple places. There's usually not much clapping in church. It was half in Polish, as well, which was kind of fun. I would guess there's also probably usually fewer shirts saying "dupa" in church (that's Polish for "ass", as in you've got a nice, or you bet your, excuse me, you betcher).
And they had a live polka band and Polish dinner in the parish hall after. I'm pretty sure their parish hall is also the local VFW for various design observation reasons, including the working bar with taps. That would definitely be the first parish hall I've seen with a bar. So multiple kinds of pierogi, multiple kinds of kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, sweet and sour cabbage, rye bread, horseradish, sauerkraut, etc. Polish beer, pop (it's Buffalo; it's pop). Free coffee, and free loganberry drink. Loganberry is SO Western NY/Southern Ontario. Also, pussy willow branches. And a live polka band. It was fun eating, watching people dance, not freezing my dupa off outside in the rain. I'm glad I did that instead of the parade and party tent. Not sure if that officially counts as attending Dyngus Day, though. Maybe I'll get the shirt if I'm around for it next year.
Anyway, there's been a concerted effort to preserve or dig up a lot of Buffalo's history and culture and there used to be a Polish community second only to Chicago (and Poland) here. Like, the Pope slept here when he was a Cardinal visiting with a group of Polish bishops and stuff. http://www.buffalonews.com/life-arts/religion/st-casimirs-catholic-church-will-open-to-the-public-a-room-where-the-future-pope-john-paul-ii-once-slept-a-room-with-a-view-to-the-past-ties-to-a-saint-20140427 . Yeah, you can visit one of the old Polish churches they saved from being torn down and see where Pope John Paul II slept.
They've been doing a lot to save and restore the old Polish neighborhoods and churches in the city. There's still a measurable ethnic community here, but it's scattered over a bunch of suburbs (Elma, Lancaster, Depew, Cheektowaga aka Cheektowarsaw). Apparently, they all got together over the last however many years and have been building up this Dyngus Day thing. It's so big, now, that they have busses that run people all over the county to the different sites, so you don't have to find parking (or drive drunk).
There's a huge parade in the city through the heart of the old Polish neighborhood with the mayor and everything, a big tent and bands, and all the traditionally Polish churches get involved, the old market is involved. It's a big deal. In fact now it really starts the evening of Easter Sunday, even though it really is supposed to be on Easter Monday. Basically, you could spend at least 12 hours traveling around Erie county drinking beer, eating Polish food, and listening to a lot of live polka bands (there's other music, too, as well as other food). Bars, clubs, restaurants, churches, parks, all sorts of locations.
The weather today was hideous (30s-40s, rain, dangerous high winds) so I decided I was not going to try for the parade, which runs about 5-6:30pm. However, the Polish church in Elma was having a polka mass at 11:30. I've been to a lot of masses because music. I even used to sometimes do music at one of the old Polish churches in Chicago, so I've been to a mass in Polish. But I've never been to a polka mass. The fact that it would be inside was a big plus today, as well.
So, yeah, they had a mini-mass with a live polka band. It was kind of like the Polish version of Sister Act, so there were a few places it was a bit incongruous. Like the bit with "... we proclaim your death ..." It was the perkiest Sanctus ever, though, and man, they really moved it along during communion. Forget all those contemplative, touchy-feely tunes. Polka really speeds up communion! Plus, I've never seen a priest who was so enthusiastic. I mean, he was practically Baptist revival enthusiastic. There was also clapping for the band in a couple places. There's usually not much clapping in church. It was half in Polish, as well, which was kind of fun. I would guess there's also probably usually fewer shirts saying "dupa" in church (that's Polish for "ass", as in you've got a nice, or you bet your, excuse me, you betcher).
And they had a live polka band and Polish dinner in the parish hall after. I'm pretty sure their parish hall is also the local VFW for various design observation reasons, including the working bar with taps. That would definitely be the first parish hall I've seen with a bar. So multiple kinds of pierogi, multiple kinds of kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, sweet and sour cabbage, rye bread, horseradish, sauerkraut, etc. Polish beer, pop (it's Buffalo; it's pop). Free coffee, and free loganberry drink. Loganberry is SO Western NY/Southern Ontario. Also, pussy willow branches. And a live polka band. It was fun eating, watching people dance, not freezing my dupa off outside in the rain. I'm glad I did that instead of the parade and party tent. Not sure if that officially counts as attending Dyngus Day, though. Maybe I'll get the shirt if I'm around for it next year.
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