Kochanski's Concertina Bar Holding Dyngus Day Celebration Monday

 After the somber Lenten season and the celebrations of Easter Sunday there is the Polish tradition the Monday after Easter called Dyngus Day.

Andy Kochanski of Kochanski's Concertina Bar at 1920 South 37th in Milwaukee starting at 6 p.m. Monday.

Kochanski started the celebration several years back, looking to preserve Polish traditions in his bar, the last surviving Polka Bar in Milwaukee.

"Back in the day they were all over the place," Kochanski told CBS 58 News. "I still do Polka. But now I mix it up a bit."

In fact, the entertainment for the night will be his house band Joe Kielbasa and the Missing Links.

Some of the band members are from the legendary Squezettes polka band who will perform traditional and contemporary music with an accordion twist.

The exact origins of  Dyngus Day are not clear. It's thought to date back to pagan times. 

Celebrations often include boys throwing water over girls they like and spanking them with pussy willows.

Some believe that dates back to the baptism of Polish Prince Mieszko and the pussy willows are an alternative to the palm leaves used elsewhere in Easter celebrations.

Even if you don't take part in those observations, Kochanski hopes folks will wear red and white, the colors of the Polish flag, and pay homage to ethnic roots of the city.

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