Fügedi Márta: A gyermek a matyó családban (Borsodi Kismonográfiák 29. Miskolc, 1988)
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE WEDDING (Children in a „matyó" family) Children do not mean only the continuation of individual life they are also the guarantee of continuity in the life of society and nation . They transmit the past and the traditions to the future. Their state and asset in society characterize and determine the views and the purposes of the given society. The position and education of our children, the relationship between the society of grown-ups and children is a timely problem even today as the more developed a society is the more attention it has to pay to children. Children had a particular place in traditional peasant society. Hungarian ethnography examined the life of families and children from the very beginning. This volume presents children's life from birth to growing up and adapting into the local society in the popular culture of „matyóság", a famous ethnographical group living in the southern part of Borsod county, well-known for its special economical and social circumstances as well as for its spectacular folk art. „Matyóság" is a traditionalist, self-conscious community holding together. Its special popular culture was formed partly by the narrowing of economical and social possibilities, partly by rigid endogamy (marrying within the community) and the Catholic religion as opposed to the Calvinist religion of the neighbouring villages. In spite of their difficulties, their hard work and „life on display" because of tourism they could keep their cultural cementing force. Local traditions helped them to find their way in matters of life and to get over the difficulties. These special local factors made more exciting the examination of the growing up of children in this closed, traditionalist local society full of rigid principles. How could children learn and acquire the traditional values of „matyó" culture and the rules concerning adapting into the society? Which were the most important characteristics of local values, which factors could modify them? What was the relationship between the individual and the society in different periods and situations of life? What was the role of the family, the generation and the community in education? From the variety of life the author tried to discover those moments of everyday life, work and holidays, customs in the life and education of „matyó" children which were characteristic of the society in Mezőkövesd. Through presenting children's life in Mezőkövesd the author wanted to 113
