Dyngus Day Party Planned at O'Brien's Irish Pub

You don't have to be of Polish descent to celebrate Dyngus Day.

Everyone is invited to the Dyngus Day Party Monday, April 1 from 4 to 9 p.m. at O'Brien's Irish Pub and Grill, 701 W. Lumsden Rd., Brandon.

Traditionally a Polish-American holiday recognizing the end of the Lenten season, it includes such customs as guys sprinkling gals with water and gals swatting guys with pussy willows.

The tradition is especially familiar to natives of Buffalo, N.Y., which has the largest Dyngus Day celebration in the country.

The celebration may date back to pagan times but has evolved into a popular Polish-American celebration. The use of water is said to evoke the spring rains needed to ensure a successful harvest later in the year. Pussy willows appear to have been adopted as an alternative to the palm leaves used elsewhere in Easter celebrations, which were not available in Poland. They were blessed by priests on Palm Sunday, and were believed to bring health and good fortune to people.

To celebrate Dyngus Day in Brandon, O'Brien's will feature a special menu of Polish favorites, polka music and pass out squirt guns and pussy willows to patrons.

For more details, click here.

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