H. Szilasi Ágota - Várkonyi Péter - Bujdosné Pap Györgyi - Császi Irén (szerk.): Agria 51. (Az egri Dobó István Vármúzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 2018)
Petercsák Tivadar: Az egri Cifra-sánc negyed fertálymesteri botja
Petercsák Tivadar 2014a Az egri fertálymesterek jelképei. Ethnographia 125. Magyar Néprajzi Társaság, 366-382. 2014b A fertálymesterség. Egy hagyományőrző tisztség Egerben. Kossuh Kiadó, Eszterházy Károly Főiskola, Budapest-Eger. Soós Imre 1985 Az egri egyházmegyei plébániák történetének áttekintése. Szent István Társulat, Budapest. Szén drey Ákos 1929 A közigazgatás népi szervei. Népünk és Nyelvünk 23-38. Tivadar Petercsák THE STICK OF THE CIFRA DISTRICT’S QUARTERMASTER It was only in Eger within the territory of present-day Hungary that the institution of quarter masters survived into the 20th century. The quarter masters’ role was to mediate between the towns authorities and the inhabitants of their respective quarters. For centuries they have been tasked with announcing the council’s decisions, helping to maintain peace and order and collect taxes. In the 20th century their activities were most prevalent in preserving traditions and being involved in charitable activities, however quarter masters also played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining the identity of their local community. Carrying their typical stick with ribbons and wearing their black mantle, quarter masters, who are elected for a one-year period, represent their own quarters during events organised by the city or the church. From 1950 elected quarter masters were not allowed to take an oath. The stick of the last quarter master candidate of the Cifra District, made in 1928, was kept by his family. The ornate stick was eventually found by the author of the study, who is the quarter master of this district himself The stick, which is decorated with ribbons, can be seen in a group photo from 1933, held by the quarter master of the time against his left shoulder. Similarly to a stick from another quarter, now on display in a museum, the names and year in office of the annually elected quarter masters were not carved onto the stick, but instead displayed on small silver plates, shaped like coats of arms, which were then nailed onto the sticks. On the most pronounced upper part of the stick we can see the coats of arms of the priest Imre Kiszely, who had the stick made, and those of other church dignitaries. Underneath less elaborate plaques are attached, bearing the names of quarter masters alive in 1928, then the holders of this office from 1929 to 1949. The tradition of quarter masters was revived after the democratic changes, in 1995-1996, by the members of the Eger Patriots’ Association. The Association of Eger’s Quarter Masters was established in 2000. It is operating according to the currently effective laws, but its organisational structure and activities are based on the old traditions. In 2014 the institution of Eger’s quarter masters has been added to the national inventory of Hungary’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. The previously described quarter master’s stick from the Cifra District has been on display in an exhibition, organised shortly after. 108
