A Debreceni Déri Múzeum Évkönyve 1987 (Debrecen, 1988)

Néprajz - Marjai Márton: The Incorporation of Classical Mythic Elements in the Folklore of Hortobágy and Environs

popular belief. The combatants consist of one white and one black bull who contest for good weather. Such contests still went on at the close of the last century on the dawn of Good Friday or Easter morning in Transdanubia, Oroszi, and Kunmadarason (Szolnok), east of the Tisza River. The researcher was even able to pinpoint the exact time of the contest, which was fought during the evening of St. George's Day, when the sun leaves the constellation Aries and passes into the sign of the Bull. At one time this period had coincided with the vernal equinox

—the beginning of the new year. There is a bright, copper knob (pad) on the horns of the earthly replica of the celestial Taurus at Hortobágy. These ancient motifs may have entered Hungarian folklore when the Magyars came in frequent economic contact with Persians and Greeks, and still occupied the original homeland on the Steppes. Furthermore, the motifs may also date from the Magyars' encounter with indigenous peoples in the newly adopted land, whom they had culturally assimilated with. And other influences may have entered with the adoption of the orthodox form of Christianity. The pre-dominant nature of orthodoxy has been amply supported with evidence by Mrs. Ibolya Nepper-Módy during their excavation of two large cometeries near the Hortobágy, which date from the occupation of Hungary. The jewelry, devotional objects, and grave furniture were of mostly Byzantine origin. 260