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April 10th, 2012
11:20 PM ET
RidicuList: People who missed Dyngus Day
The quirky rituals involved with an obscure holiday called Dyngus Day are too much for Anderson to handle... he loses it laughing during the RidicuList.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: The RidicuList |
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Segments like this make me embarrassed to admit I have a degree in Journalism. What a far cry from the professional journalism of Walter Cronkite! Nowadays, the "news" we get is some idiotic mocking of Polish culture on national television. Shame on you, CNN, for not cutting this segment, which fails to deliver "fair and balanced" news. You've only succeeded in making a total mockery of Buffalo AND Polish-Americans.
Anderson Cooper has really disappointed me. I don't even care that he back-paddled to say he called his LAUGHING FIT "stupid," rather than Dyngus Day. He was still laughing at a Polish-American cultural tradition that is very near and dear to our hearts. Would he have laughed so heartily at the African American Culture Fest in Raleigh or the Chanukah Parade in NYC? Don't think so.
Eddy Dobosiewicz – who AC treats like some sort of crackpot in his mutterings – is a local legend who not only is a co-founder of the Dyngus Day celebration as we know it, but who is also nationally known for his work on "Off-Beat Cinema." I hope Anderson takes Eddy up on his offer to come experience Dyngus Day for himself next year. Then perhaps his giddy laughter will be justified as he's being whipped by dozens of women wielding pussywillow branches.
He didn't make a total mockery of the Polish....... the Polish are doing that all on their own with rediculous holidays such as Dyngus Day! Even the name Dyngus Day is rediculous! Before you get all up in arms over this....I AM POLISH and proud of it! But I'm not afraid to laugh at myself or anything else that I find rediculously funny..... like Anderson's laugh!
This is the reason why I love Anderson Cooper so much. This is hysterical.
you and me both. this is a guy who cannot only go into the dregs of hell to get a story, but can let himself laugh at the ridiculous things in life. this incident was hilarious!!!!
I am disappointed in you Anderson! You insulted the Polish in Buffalo who love celebrating this day with Polish food, music and dance.
Perhaps you find Dyngus Day and it's triditions funny, I do not. It is an old and important part of Polish tridition. It was even a contractual holiday in many plants in the Buffalo area in the late 50 and 60. Your actions not only offend my Polish heritage you have also insulted my family. Two of my cousins are in the photos you ran behind you meltdown.
I was a fan of yours but your insensitivity to others culture is sad and unforgivable.
drunk people are funny! Let the drunken festivities prevail. but dont hide behind cultural/religious tradition. This tradition came from old country pagan roots. Not the end of Lent. It is a fertility passage. Know your heritage.
Your segment on Dyngus Day is an insult to the Polish heritage and traditions. If you did your research, you would understand what it means. I speak not only for myself, but for other Polish Americans who celebrate our heritage and traditions, and I am sorry that you do not understand, but you would by researching it. Dyngus Day is a celebration of the end of Lent, and the beginning of spring. You owe a sincere apology for your behavior on TV and insult to the Polish communities by calling it "stupid". I challenge you to come to Buffalo next year and participate in the Polish culture and understand it before you mock and ridicule our traditions.
"Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news." I would like to give him a piece of my mind too!!!
Shame on you and shame on CNN- this is why I watch FOXNews!!
Proud mom of two children that dance for Polish Heritage Dancers of Western New York, celebrating Polish Heritage through song and dance!!!
Can never get enough of Anderson's giggle
I know–I laughed so hard with him at his laugh–not at the fun holiday!
not having facebook or twitter, i guess i'll just say my piece here.... have read sooo many negative comments about last night's ridiculist and am flabergasted (sp) that so many ppl took this as a negative slur on Buffalo... my take on this was the giggles started after the "sprinking water" and pussywillow whips as Anderson jokingly showed that it made one hot under the collar (sexual funny undertones).... i personally laughed out loud at his giggling as it was apparent he was trying to curtail it (anyone ever tried not giggling in church when it is perfectly quiet and someone's stomach growls loudly or some such other noisy bodily function happens?) impossible,! the harder you try to stop... the worse it gets. i really wish ppl in the USA would stop being soooo overly sensitive and make everything about politics, or suggesting this is bullying.... good grief! chill out , watch the segment carefully and take it for what it really was.
Just my 2 cents worth
Simone
(Canada)
I am Canadian of Italian Heritage so I understand that we all have our customs that are near and dear to our hearts which may seem odd to others. When I moved to the Buffalo area, I had never heard of Dyngus Day and was amused by the traditions of it, just like my friends would when they came over and watched my dad and my uncle crush grapes with their feet. It was amusing not because it was stupid or any disrespect was intended but because it seemed odd. I agree with Simone, we all have to stop taking ourselves too seriously.
Anderson, I was always such a fan of yours until you dismissed our Polish tradition calling it "stupid". I personally invite you to Dyngus Day 2013 in Buffalo so you can experience the full festivities in person and gain a better understanding of the tradition before you publicly mock it on national television.
My son and his friend are featured on the Dyngus Day photo pictured above..please send me a copy and poster!! I love it and I am proud to be a Polish American and celebrate the ridiculous Dyngus Day...I only made the local news..he really out did me this time!!!
Sorry to hear you were ignorant to Dyngus Day and ended up mocking Buffalo, New York (a place I am beyond proud to call my hometown) and a rocking holiday of our loving, well-respected Polish community. I am not of Polish decent, but celebrate Dyngus Day every year, just as one would St. Patricks, St. Joseph's, etc. without being Irish or Sicilian. It is an excuse to get silly on Sobieski vodka, stuff your face with delicious Polish foods/desserts, and polka the night away (which is hilarious in itself, be that as it may) after observing the Holy Week surrounding Easter. The Polish community is a community of tremendous faith, honored traditions, strong values, and absolute fun. THAT is what Dyngus is all about. Don't worry, you haven't lost a viewer in this Dyngus Day lover, but I would like to personally invite you to partake in Dyngus Day Buffalo 2013. I'll save a pussy willow especially for you 😉
Anderson, had more respect for you until yesterdays Dyngus Day put down – thousands of people from all over the country and Canada flock to Buffalo for this great celebration – don't mock it unless you try it !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Every Dyngus must have its day!
A thought, next year Dyngus Day is on April first. Shouldn't we all start planning now? There isn't a whole lot else to celebrate.
When are you going to come to BUFFALO to see first hand what it's all about ??????before you laugh you should see it in person.
Yes–I would like to go to that, and I'm sure Anderson will be there as well. What a show!
Enjoyed this Ridiculist! Anderson, reminds me of your laughing on the Ridiciculist about Depardieu! 🙂 Everyone can use a laugh, great!
The way you acted about a very traditional Polish celebration was appauling. You didn't make fun of St. Patricks Day what right do you have to critize this nationality. I always enjoyed your shows but this ends it..
Oh, and Anderson, you helped book our hotels for next year!
And. that folks, is why we celebrate Dyngus Day in Buffalo!!!! LMAO!!! Everyone everywhere else has been missing out on this all these years!!!
Insulting... that's all I can say about his child like act he displayed on television. What would happen CNN if he mocked Kwanza, St. Patty's day, even Cinco De Mayo?????? there would be outrage. Make this right CNN.
I am from Buffalo and was a proud Dyngus Day celebrator a few days ago. Holidays are huge in Buffalo, mainly due to our many immigrant roots and newly settled immigrants whom we love to share our holidays with. We also have a wide variety of restaurants and food options- more than most places in the country, or world. Trust me, this place is more than a snow mobile ride to a pig barbecue (Bourdain). It is historic, delicious, and slightly mysterious. Yes, I know it's silly, but we Buffalonians love to get together and celebrate just about anything- including pussy willows, squirt guns, and Tyskie. Anderson, you are welcome to join me and my Polskie crew any Dyngus Day as we help paint our slightly dilapidated East Side red with falcons and folly.
A public apology will do more than tweeter Anderson, I have lost all respect for you.
Anderson, Please come to Buffalo next year on Dyngus Day to do your show. ???????
Do the Irish ever get offended by the drunken fest that supposedly honors their patron saint? It was a question I posed to my German-Irish spouse last month after going to Downtown Youngstown’s St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl. It came to mind again when I was surprised at my own mixed feelings about participating in the Śmigus-Dyngus celebrations in Cleveland on Monday. Don’t get me wrong—it was a fun, festive time. But for someone who devotes hours to educating and promoting pride in Polish heritage to third- and fourth-generation descendants, I couldn’t help but feel something wasn’t right about the Dyngus Queen with a kielbasa on her head and a pierogi on her scepter. That was until I received word about Anderson Cooper adding the holiday celebration to his RidicuList. Unable to contain his composure or disdain for the multicity celebrations with dancing, drinking, squirt guns and pussy willows, the CNN anchor just came out and labeled the event as “obscure and stupid” while showing fathers dancing the polka with their daughters. Seriously?
Personally I think that the women who honored their Polish heritage by donning scarves and labeled themselves as babushki for the day do little to directly honor the proud culture of Skłodowska-Curie, Kościuszko, Pułaski and Blessed John Paul II.
However, I believe enjoying a day surrounded by others in red and white eagle t-shirts smiling and laughing and obviously telling the world they are “Polish and Proud” can plant a seed of interest. For years many of these people avoided telling others they were Polish for fear of hearing yet another bad joke. Now, perhaps the next time they hear about an art exhibit at the Centrum in Slavic Village or a Polish Arts Club event at the Butler Museum they will be prompted to attend.
So back off Anderson. I’m sure the Vanderbilts created some traditions we might think are unusual, too. Or is that your two older half-brothers, Stan and Chris Stokowski never invited you to join in the fun with them?
We can right that wrong today…Anderson, consider this your invitation to join us and learn anytime! What are your thoughts?
Poor Anderson. Maybe he should rehearse those particular segments that tend to tickle his funny bone a few times prior to airing. Although that would be for his sake alone because I don't think anyone minds seeing him lose it like that. His laugh is so childlike and incredibly contagious. It's impossible not to laugh or, at the very least, smile watching him.
Hey Anderson,
Being 100% polish and a buffalonian, I just want to let you know that not all of Buffalo residents are upset. Many of the people here have an inferiority complex for whatever reason. Anything negative that gets said, they go all crazy. Dyngus day is a weird holiday no doubt. When I try to explain this to out of state friends I get weird looks and laughter all the time. If anything you did the organizers of Dyngus Day Buffalo a favor by giving them free NATIONAL exposure to our 'crazy' holiday. This can only be seen as a good thing as I'm sure many viewers have been looking this up since last nights episode. You bringing recognition to Dyngus Day gives Buffalo a chance to grow this tradition larger then anyone here could have imagined. Buffalo would be honored if you came to Dyngus Day 2013 to celebrate and experience all that we have to offer. I understand the organizers for Dyngus Day Buffalo will be sending you a personal invite with some polish goodies. Please take us up on our offer for next year. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you! Now THAT was funny!
Wow Anderson...I love your show- but some of the giddyness you had about Dyngus Day kind of offended me..yes I'm pure Polish, have only gone out on Dyngus Day once (because I never got it, if you know what I mean). I really hope you weren't mocking the Polish people. OMG.Every nationality has some sort or tradition or whatever, that some might think is silly. If you really think about it .... the Irish, German, Jewish, Greek, Italians and just plain Americans...etc.
Hey, I have laughed at the traditions or goings on too. Guess I'll have to be alittle careful how I do this, as not to offend the nationality. Right?
Dear Mr. Cooper,
We were a bit surprised by your reaction to the story about Dyngus Day. This is a tradition that, as you said in your report, is based in reality and not made up. As a proud Polish American, Dyngus Day is considered a custom in our Polish heritage. You did not show any respect for that. You ridiculed it and debased the tradition down to an excuse for people to drink. It is much more than that.
In our culture with our Catholic base, Easter is extremely pious and important. Lent marks a time of devotion, with prayer and specific days of sacrifice. The Holy Tridium leading up to Easter, is one of our most sacred times on the calendar for us. It is extremely moving in our religion to have Jesus lay His life down for us in order for our souls to be saved. This is our belief. Dyngus Day then celebrates the end of that sacred and difficult time and the Resurrection of our Lord.
We think that for you to call it "stupid" was harsh and disrespectful. It is an absolute insult. That would be like you saying "Fat Tuesday" with all of its rituals during Mardigras is also considered "stupid". For a well seasoned reporter of your caliber, to be that crass publicly about a ethnic custom, should be considered embarrassing for you. Maybe, in the future, you should screen your stories ahead of time so that you may be able to control your emotions and not ridicule a specific ethnic group for their beliefs. It is just another example of a "worldly" person not having a real sense for the "regular" person and their customs. For you to proclaim you are a person who is an adamant opponent of "bullying" and the "bullyish" outward display of laughter, poking fun, and calling our traditions "stupid" by you, should be considered a shame on you, Mr. Cooper. It is too bad, we expected more out of you, especially professionalism.
Thank you for listening to our opinion, but please try to be more considerate in your choice of words when your expressing your opinion. We would greatly appreciate it.
God, I love Anderson Cooper. He's great at the serious stuff, but his laugh is so infectious. Belated Happy Dyngus Day, Anderson. I am a Dyngus Day novice, being from Alabama and all. They celebrate Easter here and the eggs and bunnies have their own sort of weird symbolism, but how fun is a celebration that includes girls hitting boys with pussy willow branches. It does sounds Southern though, but in a Deliverance kind of way. Thanks, I laughed so much it hurt.
It's a great day in America when the ignorant people like yourself, Mr. Anderson Cooper, can still express his Freedom of Speech rights, no matter how ignorant the words may be! Congratulations on making your voice heard by all Polish Americans! You missed out on a lot of fun; unfortunatly, it looks like you will never see an invitation from the Buffalo Community to attend Dyngus Day (if you do, I would recommend not taking it...1000's of Polish people together drinking and dancing is always a great party and never a negative thing, but with you, the Polish people MAY make an exception!)
Mr. Cooper–How rude and unprofessional of you to react to the Dyngus Day segment. As you laughed through it on your show, I wondered if you would dare react the same to jumping a broom as African Americans do in wedding ceremonies or climbing a greased pole during a Puerto Rican celebration? Your reaction just continues to reinforce how biased and insensitive CNN has become. It is a very sad day when so-called "respected journalists" react in this manner. No wonder CNN is losing viewers!
For me szmyngus dyngus was always about a water fight between my parents and I- it's fun for us, what can I say.
The ethnic groups that popularized Dyngus Day were inclined to practice respectful self-denial during Lent as a way to remember the sacrifices Jesus made for mankind. The celebration of Dyngus Day is a joyous release from that self-denial. Cooper's crackup shows a total disregard for a spiritual belief that apparently is different from his own, and lowers what little respect I had for him as a journalist.
Anderson Cooper insulted us (Polish Americans) as well as those in Poland as he mocked our custom/tradition of Dyngus Day. Too bad he wasn't properly informed about it....and used it to mock us and laugh at us. I expect an apology.
Next Year, Dyngus Day is on April Fools Day. That is not a joke.
Apparently the words "Dyngus" and "pussywillow" tickled your funnybone. So much for your professionalism! To call the holiday "stupid" without respect for its roots makes you a bigot. I am very disappointed in you. I thought you would be past mocking out any ethnic groups for a cheap laugh.
Anderson, glad you got your jollies while talking about the Dyngus day celebration in Buffalo NY. As a commoner of Polish decent, you have no idea how hard my Polish Mother's family worked farming . Dyngus day represents one of the very few days they had to make merry. Is it silly, yes. But to look down your nose and call it stupid was very arrogant. Your long drawn out laugh only showed how Full of Yourself You Are. Do you think Mardi Gras is stupid? Next time you decide to poke fun at something from high atop your velvet pillow, remember this, we don't need your approval.
You may have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but you have your head up your behind. For a reporter who has been all over the world, you really showed your ignorance with respect to your behavior commenting on Dyngus day. It is a cultural celebration. Did you not notice other cultural celebrations in your travels? I am so disappointed; I used to have respect for you. What's your view on Christmas, St. Patrick's day, Cinco de Mayo, Easter, 4th of July, Veteran,s day, Kwanza, etc. Why don't you enlighten us ?
ok Anderson i love ya but boy have you got the polish people here in Buffalo upset over laughing on the the show i must addmit i was laughing so hard watching you ..But this is what the polish people have been doing for years and they did get so upset .I think you will be getting an invite for next year to make it up sorry but you did it to yourself lol:)
Anderson.. I'm glad you got a chuckle about Dyngus Day. We love to see people happy. In fact that is the most inportant thing about our celebration... having fun. Come on up and join us next year!
We don't even care that you are apparently making fun of our ethnic traditions. Have a good laugh at our expense, we still will give you lots of good old Polish food and beer if you come up to Buffalo. We hope to see you soon.
I only ask WHY??? Why make fun of people who celebrate the day after lent. I know to you it may seem strange but do you laugh at all things strange. I know I use to look at you as a open minded person and it surprised me to hear that you took a shot at the people in Buffalo and the traditions we have. I just felt that for someone who hasn’t commented on his own sexuality shouldn’t be throwing stones. I know that people don’t come out maybe because they are worried about what people may think or how they may be judged. So when I heard this I was blown away because we should embrace ALL functions that bring people together to celebrate because the more we share with each other the more we learn about each other. I hope that you take the time to come to Buffalo and meet the people here because we ALWAYS welcome everyone with open arms. I also hope that you can understand that when you laugh at people because of their traditions it hurts because it makes them feel like what they have always known is wrong. Please come and see what BUFFALO is all about first and then maybe point out to people on you show all the good things about Buffalo and start with the best thing the people.
CNN's Coopers reporting on Dyngus Day was disgusting! Quirky rituals are done on a lot of other holidays, includiing Marti Gras in New Orleans. A lot of people there dress funny and get drunk. I didn't see you poking fun at them on Fat Tuesday! I find it appalling that you chose a Polish Tradition to belittle and laugh at! You went well beyond the laughing at! You are the bully Anderson Cooper! There were a lot of errors in your reporting. Perhaps done on purpose to suit your comedian act! Perhaps YOU should stop laughing and do some real research and reporting. I put YOU AND CNN on my DisgustList of shameful celebraties and tv channels. CNN is supposed to be a News reporting channel! This is shamefuI on their part allowing someone to poke fun of another nationality. Just for the record there are 10 million Polish Americans in the US. That is 3.2% of the population! I am sure those advertisers of yours may be of Polish decent as well as their customers! Anderson Cooper and CNN owes the Polish Community and Appology!
Hey Anderson, this is a time honored tradition in Polish-American culture for people in Buffalo, NY. This celebration has always been intended to be a party because of Lenten fasting. In addition, it has its roots in Poland itself where farmers would celebrate the spring and look forward to a successful growing season. Your ignorance is confusing to me. I am confused why an educated person would laugh at cultural expressions that one didn't understand. I encourage you to experience it before you knock it. I wonder if you would say the same things about Black History Month to African-Americans in Detroit, or Irish-Americans on St. Patty's Day. I hope that you do accept their invitation and enjoy yourself.
I am DEEPLY offended by Anderson's ethnic comments about the Polish celebration of Dyngus Day. HOW DARE YOU !!
You know nothing about it except for a shallow presentation presented by the media !!
Would you offend the races,religious,gender differencesw??? You bet not . Your sweet little bottom would be in court so fast !! APOLOGIES are in order !!
Your Dyngus day report was an insult to Polish People. Would you have responded the same way with another ethnic group???? Tradition is important to ALL ethnic groups, as the Dyngus Day is to the POLISH.
Mr. Cooper,
I am unbelievably surprised at your lack of professionalism. You are one reason the teaching profession is so very difficult. Sure, why not ridicule something of which you know very little? Part of me would like to welcome you with wide arms, as my grandparents were welcomed to this country from Poland, and let you see what Buffalo is really about. Part of me wants to keep you, powerful, ignorant one of many, out. However, my grandparents forgiving genes overrule. Come see Buffalo with the eyes of an observor wishing to be enlightened and you'll meet the good people this city is really about. Whether you choose to accept the invitation to come to tour the city or not, pehaps you will consider coming to speak to junior high students and explain to them the role of a reporter. Talk about RIDICULOUS!
Hey Anderson I take total offense to the clip about Dyngus Day and so don't many other people!!!.....Im sure people will look at you differently now and will think less of you. You should really think before you make a fool out of your self on TV. Funny how you criticize a Polish Holiday you know nothing about especially with "two older half-brothers, Leopold Stanislaus "Stan" Stokowski (born 1950), and Christopher Stokowski (born 1952), from Gloria Vanderbilt's ten-year marriage to the conductor Leopold Stokowski." THAT ARE POLISH...
Thank you, Anderson, for another great laugh. If the good people of Buffalo can't find a little humor in the whimsy of their holiday, shame on them!
It seems strange that this story would be on the ridiculist… right there with batman stopping traffic and tea made with panda poop. This holiday really is no more ridiculous than Americans using St. Patrick’s Day or Cinco de Mayo as an excuse to drink. At the heart of it, Dyngus Day is a good natured holiday where polish people in Buffalo (and other cities) eat polish food, drink polish beer, and celebrate being polish. I am not from Buffalo, nor am I polish – however I have spent some time in the area, and have celebrated Dyngus Day and actually found it lots of fun. It’s a good excuse for people to get together and enjoy themselves. One of the coolest parts of Buffalo’s festival for me was the celebration in Central Terminal, a beautiful neo-classic train station that has been unused for many years.
Sure, hitting with someone with a pussy willow and squirting someone with a water gun sounds “stupid” – but that’s not really a far cry from a water balloon fight at a block party in Brooklyn. If you want to call this holiday ridiculous than you might as well say the same for Hungarian Folk Dancing, breaking a piñata, or dancing the Hora at a Jewish wedding. Culture is culture and heritage is heritage, silly as traditions may seem, they deserve more respect than this report gives it.