Dyngus Day is for everyone; no matter the national heritage or culture. On Easter Monday everyone gets to be Polish and enjoy some of the craziest festivities ever witnessed in the small city of South Bend, Indiana. Much like St. Patrick’s Day (where everyone turns Irish), Dyngus Day requires massive intake of (preferably Polish) beer and a rather sickly sweet liqueur known as jezynowka (a blackberry brandy). This brandy should come with a warning label telling the drinker that, depending on how much of said product is consumed; one could seriously regret turning Polish for the day.
In addition to the alcoholic beverages, there is some very delicious food that generally goes along with the day. Obviously, the main food star would be the Polish sausage (pronounced: Saaasaaaage – think Chicago accent). Usually, this wonderful tubular meat is served with a slice of bread and a hard boiled egg (it is the day after Easter after all). If things are going well, then there may be a full Polish spread involved. This feast usually consists of sausage, chicken, noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet/sour cabbage, and perhaps a pierogi or two, or ten. Generally, it is widely accepted (if not flat out encouraged) to hold your sausage sandwich in one hand while holding a beer in the other. All of this food coordination is also compounded by the fact that everyone is dancing as well.
This brings me to my last, and most important, aspect of Dyngus Day; the music and polka dancing. One is not expected to know how to polka during this event, but believe me when I say that if the urge doesn’t strike, then it’s time to check the pulse. Our Dyngus Day celebration plays to the soundtrack of classic and more modern polka music. Those who do know the fine art of polka dancing are an absolute joy to watch and, even with the beer flowing in rivers, the skill and stamina to keep up with these elders is beyond what many of us can handle.
In short, don’t miss out on this little known holiday. The party starts at 7:00 am (yes, you read that correctly), and I highly suggest getting to the site that early. The polka starts around 7:30-8:00am – the sausage is served all day long, and well, the beer and brandy flows when the music starts…yes, that means alcohol for breakfast! Tell me, what’s not to like about Dyngus Day?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Owl Muse
It seems perfectly natural that my chosen muse (the esteemed owl) should represent misfortune on one side of the world and wisdom/prosperity on the other. While visiting Greece (home of the “wise” Athenian owl), I was told that I was very fortunate to be able to see and hear owls in my backyard here in Michigan. Apparently, most of the owls in Greece are gone; and, to see one means luck is sure to follow. Well, I’m still waiting for that luck to kick in, but I can share my opposite adventure while I wait.
I have a very good Vietnamese friend here in my hometown who is fully aware of my many idiosyncrasies. The day I showed up in his shop wearing my brand new silver owl pendant, he looked as if I had personally bit the heads off of several rodents and regurgitated the pellets on his floor. Most people thought my owl necklace was pretty (or at least unique, I get that comment a lot), but my buddy looked horrified. Seriously, I’m not out to offend people with my accessories (most of the time) so I had to know why he vehemently opposed my feathered décor. Simply put, he informed me that owls/birds of prey are considered unlucky and denote death in his culture. Removing the aberrant creature from around my neck, I told him about my Grecian experience and that the opposite holds true there. Interestingly, he did not seem impressed with this information, and after much cajoling; he accepted my fascination with these strange birds.
Recently, I heard the familiar hoots outside my window in that weird hour between late night and pre- dawn. Lying in bed, in a semi-dream state, it occurred to me that their calls were sending the small hairs on my arms to stand up straight, while at the same time I smiled knowing that I was one auspicious woman to hear these sounds in first place.
I have a very good Vietnamese friend here in my hometown who is fully aware of my many idiosyncrasies. The day I showed up in his shop wearing my brand new silver owl pendant, he looked as if I had personally bit the heads off of several rodents and regurgitated the pellets on his floor. Most people thought my owl necklace was pretty (or at least unique, I get that comment a lot), but my buddy looked horrified. Seriously, I’m not out to offend people with my accessories (most of the time) so I had to know why he vehemently opposed my feathered décor. Simply put, he informed me that owls/birds of prey are considered unlucky and denote death in his culture. Removing the aberrant creature from around my neck, I told him about my Grecian experience and that the opposite holds true there. Interestingly, he did not seem impressed with this information, and after much cajoling; he accepted my fascination with these strange birds.
Recently, I heard the familiar hoots outside my window in that weird hour between late night and pre- dawn. Lying in bed, in a semi-dream state, it occurred to me that their calls were sending the small hairs on my arms to stand up straight, while at the same time I smiled knowing that I was one auspicious woman to hear these sounds in first place.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Null and Void
My synonym search turned up the following words and phrases: Not valid, without value, effect, consequence, or significance, lacking, nonexistent, and being or amounting to zero. It seems to me that nothingness is sure loaded with a lot of something-ness. As I seek to annul my first marriage, I am confronted with this overwhelming urge to reaffirm my history rather than reject it. Granted, those were not the most wonderful five years of my life, but they did exist. That union served a multitude of lessons on (slightly tarnished) silver platters, and to deny this section of my life would be likened to lying for religious purposes. I just can’t bring myself to go there.
Annulment is a soft sounding word for a very rock hard action; invalidating a marriage. I am about to declare my first marriage null and void and this takes some getting used to. I mean, wasn’t the divorce enough? Doesn’t the Almighty already know the circumstances leading up to and right after the great divide? Apparently, documentation is required for us humble humans to just make sure everything is kosher. This leaves me feeling amazingly empty. I want to take credit for the milestones in my own life, for better or worse, in sickness and health, and for richer and poorer (pardon the horrid puns). My life experiences and personal history help make me the matchless and beautifully appalling person I am today.
As of right now, my intentions are to continue with this odd marital rewind. Why? Well, first of all, it occurred to me (along about question 32 of the brain-numbing and heartbreaking marital resume) that church law and civil law are two very different animals and should be kept far apart from one another, but I digress. Basically, I am divorcing my ex-husband spiritually now and not just civilly. Also, the church is declaring my first marriage invalid, not me as a person. I still exist; I am just a little louder now. The most important reason, however, for this little blip on my path of enlightenment is relatively simple. I am in love, and that should explain everything.
Annulment is a soft sounding word for a very rock hard action; invalidating a marriage. I am about to declare my first marriage null and void and this takes some getting used to. I mean, wasn’t the divorce enough? Doesn’t the Almighty already know the circumstances leading up to and right after the great divide? Apparently, documentation is required for us humble humans to just make sure everything is kosher. This leaves me feeling amazingly empty. I want to take credit for the milestones in my own life, for better or worse, in sickness and health, and for richer and poorer (pardon the horrid puns). My life experiences and personal history help make me the matchless and beautifully appalling person I am today.
As of right now, my intentions are to continue with this odd marital rewind. Why? Well, first of all, it occurred to me (along about question 32 of the brain-numbing and heartbreaking marital resume) that church law and civil law are two very different animals and should be kept far apart from one another, but I digress. Basically, I am divorcing my ex-husband spiritually now and not just civilly. Also, the church is declaring my first marriage invalid, not me as a person. I still exist; I am just a little louder now. The most important reason, however, for this little blip on my path of enlightenment is relatively simple. I am in love, and that should explain everything.
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