Dyngus Day celebrated with Polish food at Sacred Heart in Medina

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Richard and Kirsten Glass dance to the polka after the couple was crowned king and queen of Dyngus Day at the Sacred Heart Club this evening.

The club gives the honor to active volunteers in the club. The couple has been active volunteers at many of the Sacred Heart activities, including the seven week of Friday fish fries leading up to Easter, an ugly sweater contest and many other parties.

“It’s like a family here,” said Mr. Glass, who joined Sacred Heart in 1968.

He and his wife were presented with the royalty by last year’s king Dave Silkowski and queen Diane Humphrey.

“I’m shocked,” Mr. Glass said about the honor. “I had no idea.”

Richard and Kirsten Glass celebrate their king and queen recognition with daughter Tricia Allen and grandchildren Jane and Bryce Allen.

The Sacred Heart Club welcomed about 100 people for the Dyngus Day party, with many people wearing red in honor of the Polish celebration.

Pussy willows were also available. In the Dyngus Day tradition, boys sprinkle water on the girls who then tap the boys with pussy willows as a way of flirting.

Terri Moriarty gives her husband Tim a tap with a pussy willow. They celebrated Dyngus Day at Sacred Heart for the first time. They are now both retired and back in Medina after spending the winter in South Carolina.

They enjoyed the spread of Polish food. Tim enjoyed the sweet and sour cabbage, and the smoked kielbasa. Terry said her favorite is the Golabki – cabbage stuffed with ground beef and rice.

Terri Moriarty holds a pussy willow she used to gently touch her husband Tim in one of the Dyngus Day traditions.

JT Thomas, center, greets his parents, Ron and BJ Thomas, who were enjoyed some of the Polish food. JT helped cook some of the meal and also was the DJ playing polka music.