The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

This is pretty short notice, but the Bedlam Theatre's Jim Bueche reports that today is Smyngus Dingus, a famous Polish holiday.

"It traditionally is a courting holiday" says Bueche; "a young man would ask the mother of a girl he fancied for access to their home in the early morning.  If access was granted he would come in with a bucket of water and dump it on his sleeping object of affection.  For the most part it seems the young ladies were happy to be fancied, and to show thanks they'd rise and beat the suitor with a pussy willow branch (Smingus.)  So, the full name for the holiday is Smingus Dyngus, with dyngus being the dumping of the water."

To celebrate, the Bedlam Theatre has a whole evening of activities planned, including a happy hour (4-7 p.m.), egg decorating (5-7), speed dating (7-8),  a $5 Polish mini-buffet (5-9 p.m.) and music, live and recorded, from 8 pm to 1 a.m. , featuring the amazing duo, Dreamland Faces: Karen Majewicz plays accordion, Andy McCormick plays singing saw, and the music they make together is both eerie and beautiful.

Bedlam Theatre,   1501 S. 6th St. (on the West Bank), Minneapolis, 612-341-1038.