The custom is believed to have pre-Christian roots tied to spring, rebirth, and fertility, though it later became intertwined with Christian tradition and is sometimes linked to the baptism of early Polish ruler Mieszko I in 966, a key event in the nation's history. Today, the holiday is largely observed as a lighthearted celebration, with family members, friends, and passersby often dousing one another with water in a festive nod to one of Poland’s most enduring Easter customs.