Marzanna is the Polish name for a Slavic goddess associated with death, winter and nature. Despite the strong Catholic character of modern Poland, some pagan traditions have endured. Marzanna is still alive thanks to a popular celebration known as the Drowning of Marzanna (Topienie Marzanny). Every year, on the first day of spring ( 21st March) , children would make a doll of straw, old clothes and ribbons and toss it into the water. The aim of the ritual is to chase off winter and encourage nature to revive.
In our after school club ( świetlica) there was a competition on the best Marzanna.
Śmigus-Dyngus, also known as Lany poniedziałek (Wet Monday), is a Polish Easter Monday tradition which, in short, involves people throwing water at each other. It used to be traditional folk game between young boys and girls, who celebrated the arrival of spring. If the boy throws water at a girl, it means he likes her. Nowadays is a free-for-all, all-day water battle played out with water pistols, bottles, buckets.
