A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Historica 4. (Szeged, 2001)

ORBÁN Imre: Szent István király tisztelete Makón a XVIII. századtól a XX. század elejéig

IMRE ORBÁN RESPECT FOR SAINT STEPHEN THE KING AT MAKÓ FROM THE 18TH CENTURY UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY The Church, the town of Makó and its residents strove to celebrate Saint Stephen's Day in a worthy manner. The Church encouraged worship and consecrated churches, altars and church bells. It organised a local celebration, while continuing to carry on its usual church business. It bade welcome and farewell to pilgrims, conducted ceremonies and held receptions of public importance. On the one hand the town of Makó supported national movements and represented itself on national holidays, while on the other hand it also took part — at a local level — in reverence towards the Sainted King. It accepted and encouraged the idea that August 20th should be adopted as the date of celebrations in the town. It took part in organisation work, put up flags all over the town, maintained public order, invited the residents to the celebrations, and represented itself there as a body. If it was deemed necessary, it established an organising committee and tried to ensure that the amenities provided in Saint Stephen's square were adequate. The residents joined in the daily events with their presence and their customs. They dressed in their Sunday best, smartened up their homes, and held family feasts. In addition to these activities there was a town fair and a barbecue and the organisation of public entertainment, with social lunches and dinners becoming increasingly popular as time went by. The day of Saint Stephen the King brought the town of Makó and all its residents together, without discrimination, in a unique way. For obvious reasons, King Stephen became symbolic of the town. This role — in a roundabout way — remained up to the 20th century, and has again started to regain strength and acceptance at the beginning of the new millennium.