Shopping at stores locally over the past week, we’ve seen chocolate bunnies, egg coloring kits, jelly beans, Easter lilies and … pussy willows.

While the majority of the country probably isn’t selling that many pussy willows, it’s a site that continues to be popular here in Western New York.

That’s because today is Dyngus Day.

According to dyngusday.com, Dyngus Day has become a wonderful holiday to celebrate Polish-American culture, heritage and traditions. Tradition states that Prince Mieszko I, along with his court, were baptized on Easter Monday. Thus, Dyngus Day and its rites of sprinkling with water have become a folk celebration in thanksgiving for the fact that the first king of Poland was baptized into Christianity, bringing Catholicism to Poland. In more modern times, the tradition continued when farm boys in Poland wanted to attract notice from the girls of their choice. It was customary to throw water and hit the girls on their legs with twigs or pussy willows. Cologne was used instead of water by the more gallant lads. The ladies would reciprocate by throwing dishes and crockery and Tuesday was their day of revenge, imitating the same tactics.

At modern Dyngus Day parties, it is common practice that both men and women trade water and pussy willow equally.

So if you happen to see someone walking around with a pussy willow, at least you’ll know why! So join in the fun. On this day, as the saying goes, “Everybody is Polish on Dyngus Day.”