SOUTH BEND — If you’re out celebrating Dyngus Day today, look around. Are younger generations carrying on the Polish holiday, complete with its own South Bend-specific political spin?
Gary Weese, co-owner of Jeannie’s Tavern on South Bend’s west side, gave an emphatic yes. He’s owned Jeannie’s for 10 years and has celebrated the Polish holiday with gusto each year. Millennials — think young adults up to age 35 — are the core group at his bar the Monday after Easter, he said.
“It’s a traditional holiday, and it’s one of the few west side holidays,” he said. “We’re not Polish, but we celebrate. It’s just like how everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day — everyone is Polish on Dyngus Day.”
The event truly burst in popularity in South Bend in the 1950s.
“I think there are a lot of people that appreciate that a tradition like Dyngus Day is still being respected,” Weese said. “It’s a tradition we hope South Bend will maintain and continue. It’s not celebrated everywhere.”
Focusing on the political side, Timothy Hudak, president of the West Side Democratic Club, says he’s seen the presence of younger generations grow. He chalked it up to younger generations becoming more politically active in the last few election cycles, and thus becoming more active in local political events, such as the campaigning that occurs at the club on Dyngus Day.
“They’re realizing it’s important to be active,” he said.
In fact, Indiana Young Democrats are planning a bus trip from Indianapolis to South Bend. This is the second year for the trip, according to group President Ashley Gurvitz.
Gurvitz said that while she was growing up, her family placed an emphasis on celebrating cultural holidays such as Dyngus Day. She didn’t truly celebrate Dyngus Day until she was an adult, she said.
Last year, the Indiana Young Democrats made it a priority to celebrate the day, she said. The social element is definitely there, with traditional food and bar crawls, but she hopes that the cultural element, including celebrating Polish heritage, is present, too. She does notice millennials out to celebrate, but would like to see the numbers grow even more.
“I recently talked to a friend about Dyngus Day, and they had no idea what it was,” she said. “It’s this historic but still powerful holiday in the Polish community. We need to find a way to make sure the true aspect of what is Dyngus Day stays. The way we get that growth is through social awareness.”
Hudak said the celebration at the West Side Democratic Club is more political than anywhere else in the city. Many people go out on Dyngus Day as equivalent of St. Patrick’s Day, but for the crowd at West Side, it’s about visiting with the candidates, he added.
Whether political or cultural, younger generations celebrating Dyngus Day is a welcome occurrence, Hudak said. He’s been at the West Side club celebrating for nearly 30 years. He wouldn’t mind more younger folks getting active with the celebration, whether it’s attending or organizing events.
Mike Bukowski, vice chairman of the board of directors for ZB Falcons, agreed — young people come out to celebrate for the day, but he’s hoping to see them set up to leadership positions in local clubs.
“The age of active members is going up,” he said. “The younger generation isn’t joining. I grew up in this club. My great-grandfather helped found it. We’re here because of the tradition. I don’t see them coming behind — I think that’s going to cause South Bend and other areas to lose their clubs.”
