"Easter Monday, Wet "Easter Monday, Wet Monday, or “Dousing Monday, or “Dousing Monday”, the second Monday”, the second day of Easter is a day day of Easter is a day of youth and joy for of youth and joy for

life.life.

Sprinkling habit (watering) on the second day of Easter , Sprinkling habit (watering) on the second day of Easter , was brought in the Middle Ages in areas inhabited by was brought in the Middle Ages in areas inhabited by German Saxons. Then, the tradition was taken over by German Saxons. Then, the tradition was taken over by Hungarians Lutheran, and later spread to all communities Hungarians Lutheran, and later spread to all communities with hungarians in Romania, regardless of religion. This with hungarians in Romania, regardless of religion. This usually only be found in the Hungarian community in usually only be found in the Hungarian community in Transylvania and was eventually adopted by the Transylvania and was eventually adopted by the Romanians, is proof that unites traditions Romanians, Romanians, is proof that unites traditions Romanians, Hungarians and Germans from these areas.Hungarians and Germans from these areas.

A couple of decades ago men poured water on women in rural A couple of decades ago men poured water on women in rural areas and women wore folk costumes. Boys often dragged areas and women wore folk costumes. Boys often dragged girls to the well and poured water on them with pail. girls to the well and poured water on them with pail. Sometimes they washed them in creek. The possible reason for Sometimes they washed them in creek. The possible reason for this very old tradition is that people believed in the cleaning, this very old tradition is that people believed in the cleaning, healing and fertility effect of water.healing and fertility effect of water.

On Monday boys and men visit all of their women On Monday boys and men visit all of their women relatives, friends, neighbors. Boys in small groups, relatives, friends, neighbors. Boys in small groups, fathers with their sons, or single men leave early in fathers with their sons, or single men leave early in the morning and their "tour" last all day long. They the morning and their "tour" last all day long. They greet girls and women with shorter - longer poems greet girls and women with shorter - longer poems

(mostly with a funny poem about "Easter sprinkling") (mostly with a funny poem about "Easter sprinkling") and sprinkle them with cologne. Women must be and sprinkle them with cologne. Women must be well-prepared, they treat men with dessert and well-prepared, they treat men with dessert and

beverages - and with hand-painted eggs. Women beverages - and with hand-painted eggs. Women usually prepare in the previous days by decorating, usually prepare in the previous days by decorating,

cooking and painting a couple dozen eggs.cooking and painting a couple dozen eggs.

Easter Rhymes can also be quite elaborate or short and funny. Easter Rhymes can also be quite elaborate or short and funny. A sample of these:A sample of these:

On a Ducking Monday fun to see the people,On a Ducking Monday fun to see the people, Go out in the streets and Go out in the streets and one another sprinkle.one another sprinkle. We shall duck the master, mistress with her We shall duck the master, mistress with her daughter:daughter: Painted eggs we ask for, two each for the water.Painted eggs we ask for, two each for the water. If you give us If you give us two each, we shall thank you gladly;two each, we shall thank you gladly; If you give but one each, we’ll return If you give but one each, we’ll return them sadly.them sadly.

Here I stand behind the door, Scribble-scrabble, Service Tree, My Easter egg I’m asking for. Easter Monday, fragrant glee. Ladies, better mark my word Pretty flowers water we,

Bring my egg or here I mold. With cookie bounty out we flee.

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Made by Made by LORENA LORENA

School No 2 School No 2 Codlea-RomaniaCodlea-Romania