CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cold weather and rain didn't stop Clevelanders from chowing down on pierogi and chugging Polish beer on Dyngus Day.
This was the sixth and largest Cleveland celebration of Dyngus Day, the Polish holiday that marks Easter Monday and the end of Lent.
Thousands of people partied in Ohio City, Tremont, Hingetown and Gordon Square. There was polka music, along with dozens of vendors and a parade.
People munched on paczki, the Polish doughnuts stuffed with a flavored filling and covered in powdered sugar, and washed them down with Tyskie beer.
Women carried twigs and men had squirt guns, channeling the holiday's old traditions in which women whacked men with sticks and men drenched women with water as signs of affection.
Those traditions might seem a little odd now, but the twigs and water date back to the holiday's pagan roots of purification and fertility.
Krampus, the half-demon goat, was spotted around Cleveland, likely on the hunt for bad kids.
For those of you who don't know the tale, the demon follows Saint Nicholas around. While Nick gives presents to good children on Christmas, Krampus takes the naughty ones and punishes them – in ways much more terrifying than bestowing a lump of coal.
Sokolowski's University Inn was a hot spot in Tremont on Monday. The cafeteria-style restaurant was packed as soon as its doors opened at 11 a.m.
Sokolowski's, the oldest family-owned restaurant in Cleveland, was honored on Dyngus Day when Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman renamed West 13th Place as Sokolowski Way.
Check out this Snapchat video for a glimpse of some of the fun.
Scroll down for more Dyngus Day pictures and videos.
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