Ethnic Groups Stage New Year's Eve Parties

At least three galas are scheduled for New Year's Eve by ethnic groups in Indy:

The New Year's Eve Dance begins at 8 p.m. in the German-American Klub, 8602 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis. Sponsored by Die Fledermaeuschen Tanzgruppe, tickets are $15. For reservations, call 317:460-4270. There'll be dancing to the music of Jay Fox and the Bavarian Showtime Band. We will have fun, music, dancing, noisemakers, snacks and a champagne toast at midnight.

A family-centered New Year Celebration also begins at 8 p.m. in the India Community Center, Indianapolis. Sponsored by India Association of Indianapolis, tickets are $5 family, $2 individual. For more innformation, call Sumit Thaker: 317:374-7472.

A Multiethnic New Year's Eve Party takes place at the Latvian Community Center, 1008 West 64th Street, Indianapolis. Join the Latvians, Scots, Poles, Finns, Lithuanians and others for an international celebration.

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Pierogi Fest This Weekend in Whiting

Historic downtown Whiting salutes the town's Eastern European heritage with its thirteenth annual Pierogi Fest this weekend.

Friday through Sunday, look for polka bands, international dancers, beer garden, Arts & Craft show, ethnic food vendors, Polka Parade, Kids' Kourt, "more pierogies than there are in Warsaw", Mr. Pierogi and his dancing Pieroguettes.

For information, see the website or call 219:659-0292.

INSIDER TIP:
Bring a cooler so you can take home some frozen pierogies!

Dyngus Day in South Bend

Politics and culture collide in northern Indiana on Dyngus Day -- the day after Easter (this year: 24 March). It's a religious holiday in Eastern Europe (especially Poland) that probably has pagan roots. Celebrations are common in the United States in regions with large populations with Polish, Czech and Slovakian heritage.

But, it takes a particular twist in Indiana. According to Wikipedia, "In South Bend, the day is often used to launch the year's political campaign season (particularly among Democrats)- often from within the West Side Democratic Club, the M.R. Falcons Club or in local pubs, where buying drinks is favored over handshaking."

This year, former President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea will visit South Bend on Dyngus Day to kick off Hoosiers for Hillary at the West Side Democratic Club, 617 South Warren Street (time to be announced).

Sounds like a lot more fun than the traditional celebration in Poland, where, early in the morning, boys awaken girls by pouring buckets of water on their heads and then "beat" them on the legs with switches made from willow, birch or decorated tree branches. The "victim" rewards her "attacker" with a decorated egg, then ties a ribbon to the boy's whip -- more ribbons, more bragging rights. (Girls will save the best eggs for the boys they like best.) Women get revenge in the afternoon by pouring a bucket of cold water on the men. Older men are given Třešňovice (cherry brandy) instead of eggs.

UPDATE:
No matter what it says in The Indianapolis Star this morning (22 March), Easter marks the end of Lent, not Dyngus Day!