The celebration has been traced back to the 14th century but may have earlier, pre-Christian origins involving the celebration of the March equinox. The origins of the word dyngus are obscure as it may come from the German Dingeier ("owed eggs", the Easter eggs that are to be given to childrenFriedrich David Gräter, Idunna und Hermode. Eine Alterthumszeitung ; Herausgegeben von F. D. Gräter, 1812, p. 78) or Dingnis, Dingnus (ransom paid during the war to protect against pillagingJanusz R. Kowalczyk, "A Journey Through Polish Easters Past", culture.pl, April 7, 2020).
