Magyar News, 1990. november-1991. augusztus (1. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1990-12-01 / 2. szám
MERRY CHRISTMAS KELLEMES KARÁCSONYT Drawing by E. Jean Burke from the book “Down in Villa Park” by Magdalene Havadtoy. Rev. Dr. Anthony Szilagyi TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS OF HUNGARY One of the richest celebrations in Hungary was always that of Christmas. As in many other countries, Hungary also saw a mingling of traditional Christian customs with holdovers from its pagan days. We don’t have to worry that in all cases we are dealing with traditions from the pagan times only, but it is certain that anniversaries which were very important to the peasantry, the customs, traditions and beliefs, are connected with and have melted into the traditions of the church year. In many cases the church has consecrated some of these customs and installed them among the religious holidays. Christmas celebrations in Hungary really begin with Advent, the first day of which is the Sunday that falls closest to St. Andrew’s Day (November 30). In some places they signalled its beginning by ringing the bells at midnight, and from then on all loud musical entertainment was prohibited. The women and girls of the community went to church dressed in black or at least in dark-colored dresses. The celebration of St. Nicholas’ Day (December 6) is one of the more recent folk days. Therefore, the giving of gifts to children began to spread in the Hungarian villages only in the last century. The Hungarian village people also took over mummery (alakoskodás) from the traditions of the west, but that seems to be older than gift giving. In'Csepreg in 1785 they were already prohibiting this custom. From a document of that day we read, “And because it has been experienced from ancient times that some among the citizens, on the evening or during the night before the day of Bishop St. Nicholas, go from house to house in various garb and frighten the young children with scary, ugly figures, contrary to common sense, it is strictly ordered that nobody among the citizens shall dare to permit their children or their servants to go around in such colorful garb on the night before St. Nicholas’ Day.” Before the Gregorian calendar became the standard, St. Lucy’s Day, December 13 (luca-nap) was the shortest day of the year, which is why in many places until very recently, the Hungarian peasants counted the lengthening of the days from then. The women did not work on this day. The men began to make the “Lucy Chair (Luca-szék), carving a separate piece one day at a time from different kinds of wood, so that the chair would be finished exactly by the time of the Christmas Eve service. The person who sat on this chair during the service would see the witches in the church, but then they had to run home immediately because if they recognized him he would have been killed. In the Transdanubia region of Hungary, children used to go from house to house on this day and charm the hens so that they would lay eggs all the year round. A recent custom called “searching for Lodging” has become popular in various parts of Hungary. It started when nine families got together and from December 15th on, carried a picture of the Holy Family to a different house every day singing and praying in front of that house. Then they gave gifts to the poorer families, as if they were giving them to the Holy Family. The most popular Christmas custom is the Nativity play (betlehemezes). This tradition goes back into the dim past. There are records which speak of mystery plays in the church LLA COMPLETE CAR CLEANING SERVICES’7) £] “Full Service" Exterior Wash includes PSfjpl w yfmm If) c Professional Hand Waxing & Complete Detailing wsH l S1 UM £l Ll U Ifbi 11 (t_ T—ri1 1 Fairfield • 367-8327 Bridgeport • 372-3417
