Smingus-Dingus
Unlike United States, most of Europe celebrates Easter Monday. In some Eastern European countries - Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary - it is called Wet Monday. The name comes from the custom of boys dousing girls with buckets of water early in the day. The tradition dates back to pre-Christian times and alludes to a pagan fertility ritual.
I am happy to report that in modern times, girls retaliate with a vengeance and it has become a day long water battle carried out on the city streets. So be forewarned: if you ever find yourself in Eastern Europe on a Wet Monday, remember to carry your umbrella!
This photo is the closest I could come to spraying you…oops, I hope I did not get any water on your keyboard ;-)
17 comments:
Ya' gotta' love those pagan rituals!
A rain coat is better Isabella.
Any one who walks in today is going to get it. I am going to say hey you SMINGUS DINGUS and I spash water on him.
Pagan rituals were in accordance with the laws of nature.
If I were a girl in Europe, I rather be sprinkled than tinkled. :-)
As usual, the Americans love to work and gave up an extra day of holiday so we can be at the office making more money for the corporations.
In Europe we have lots of strange festivals and rituals. One the girls will like, getting their own back for having to endure fertility rites, is the carnival practice of cutting off mens ties, the symbolism of which doesn't need explained here
water on keyboard is ok - quite refreshing in fact - and the story was superbly written!
Cool information... and thanks for the advice!
In Spain today most of people work, but it depends of the city. In Madrid kids will return tomorrow to school from Eastern holidays but parents have to work. As I'm unemployed now I'm on permanent vacation... (I'll start working on 23th April!) :)
First, I didn't know until last week that some of Europe has Easter Monday off. Now you tell me this is the thing they do on this day off? That rocks!
It's Monday morning and we Americans, all have to go to work while the rest of the world gets to perform a pagan fertility rite.
What am I missing?
Well I've got the holiday but it looks like you got the sunshine.
Angela
So we can conclude that wet t-shirt contests are really nothing more than religiuos rituals too?
Who knew?
Now I need to go change after you just doused me with water. I thought you said the guys are the ones who douses the girls. So what are you dousing us for?
Hello, hello, hello to you flower lady or could I say flourishing lady ?
It has been sunny Easter Monday here, no custom like that in my country, but a holiday, yes and a surprise - snow everywhere :))
I love those pagan rituals, I wish we had a few of them here!
I adore to see your pictures. Naples seems to be so beautiful. My friends in the US told me about San Agustin, but not about Naples. Next time in Florida I wo'nt miss it...
Thanks for dropping by at the Blogtrotter
Gil
Rauf - I love your enthusiasm!
Richard - brilliant tit for tat ;-)
Thanks all for visiting...
Pagan rituals ended up becoming very patriarchal and hostile so it seems from your post. I imagine the spray originally was much more.... shall we say sensual?
How interesting! I never knew this before.
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