T. Bereczki Ibolya (szerk.): GYERMEKVILÁG MAGYARORSZÁGON (Kiállítási katalógusok - Szentendre, Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum, 2003)
CHILDREN'S WORLD IN HUNGARY EXHIBITION OF THE HUNGARIAN OPEN AIR MUSEUM Our exhibition has the purpose to highlight the children's culture in Hungary. We would like to show how village children used to live hundred years ago, how they used to play, how they were brought up in order to get familiar with the farmer's work. We follow the main stages in the life of a child in a village and in a market town from the second half of the 19 t h century up to now. Our exhibited photos and objects show more. They also reveal the tragedies in children's life, when history brought suffering for them. Our exhibition presents furniture, utensils, clothing, working tools made for children, as well as toys. We emphasise those toys, being part of the renewing tradition, which can be useful and interesting for today's children too. We arranged a play-corner in the exhibition, where our visitors can touch and try out traditional Hungarian toys. BIRTH AND BABYHOOD In the traditional way of life of farmers, children were considered as blessing. Many wedding customs referred to happiness of the couple, which included offspring as soon as possible. Expecting mothers enjoyed special care of the community and of the family, although they used to work till the time of birth. People tried to forecast the gender of the child from the mother's shape. She could help herself from any fruit in the fields, which she desired. She was not allowed to look at sick or injured people, because her child might be the same, Experienced women in the family prepared the young mother for the birth at home, assisted by a midwife till the middle of the 20 t n century. Training of midwifes started in the first third of the 19 t h century. Publications of doctors, rules for midwives and later the activities of Ignác Semmelweis reduced gradually the frequent death of mother and baby. Sometimes, husband's help was required in case of prolonged labour. The father took the newborn child in his arms and placed his hat on him. He accepted him in the family with this symbolic act. After the birth, the mother spent a certain time in confinement, attended by the family and the relations. Her bed was set up in the clean room, protected by a mosquito net and her baby was laid at her side. Relations helped the family during the confinement with providing food: it had to consist of several dishes, the food had to be light but nutritious. Food was supplied following a special order, under the attention of the community. An embroidered cloth covered the foodbasket. The custom was alive till the fifties of the 20 t h century. A few days after the birth, the godmother carried the child to the church for baptising. Godparents were chosen from among friends till the first half of the 20 t h century. Nowadays, close family members are preferred. Their task was to follow up the life of the godchild, and to bring him up in case of sickness or death of the parents. When the baby was 2-3 weeks old, he was placed in the cradle, where he stayed even till his first birthday or till the arrival of a new baby. The baby was tightly wrapped in swaddling bands up to his age of several months. This custom was practised till the beginning of the 20 m century. Women used to carry their babies along when they went to work in the fields. They fixed a bed-sheet on sticks and laid the baby in this "field-cradle". Boys and girls were clad in similar cloths. They wore festive cloths only for the baptising. Normally they were dressed in the long shirt, which their mother stitched for them. In regions famous for colourful festive national costumes, 4-5 years old boys and girls wear also festive clothes very similar to that of the adults. FROM CRADLE TO SCHOOL - CHILD IN THE FAMILY "When God gives a lamb, He will provide the pasture too" - used to say old people who considered the large family as a necessity. Up to the beginning of the 20 t h century, no more than half of the children lived to their teens. It was however important, to carry the family's name and to help in the family's work. Therefore, generally 4-6 children were born in families but 8-10 children were not unusual. Birth control became widespread at the end of the 19 t h century in Protestant villages with a small field. In villages where families were reduced to one-two children, the village society showed distorted phenomena and the community's vitality dwindled considerably. Special furniture helped the infant to stand and to walk. He spent the night among his siblings and the day in the warm corner behind the oven. Older siblings or the grandparents looked after him, when his mother worked in the fields. Mothers used to nurse their children as long as possible, even during two years. Young women living under the same roof suckled, fed and cared for each other's children. As soon as the child could walk, he was around his mother and elder siblings and started to imitate them and learned household skills. Soon he got small tasks, and his toys imitated adults' working tools. Soon he looked after younger children and tended for geese in the pasture. Orphans and children born out of wedlock had a hard life. They had to work from a very young age, their health and clothing were neglected and their food was reduced to a minimum. Illegitimate children were given to foster parents in the second half of the 19 tn century and they grew up without the care and the love of the family and of the community. The role of the child in the family changed in the course of the 20 t h century. Since less children are born in a family, child-death assumed tragic proportions. Children's relations to siblings and to grandparents changed. Grandparents' role in education decreased and kindergarten and school play a more decisive role. A large number of families moved to towns and not only men, women also took up jobs in factories and offices. As a consequence, the growing up of children into the traditional way of life has completely ceased. CHILDREN CELEBRATE Children took part in the festivities of the family and of the village community from their young age on. First, they were mere spectators in the company of elder siblings and parents, later they became active participants. This was the way to become familiar with the traditional order of feasts and customs and to learn the songs, the dances, the rhymes. The active participation in the festive events strengthened their ties to the community. The biggest events were for them the weddings. They used to help in the preparations, they had their place in the procession at the side of their mothers, set with them at the table and danced with the bride. 8-10 year old girls could be bridesmaids and 15-16 year old boys could be best men playing an important role in the wedding ceremony. Bigger children liked to imitate the adults. Such an occasion was the children's wedding: everybody was appointed to a role. There was a bride, a bridegroom, a priest, etc. They wore old cloth and even cakes were provided. Children organised their own ball at carnival time. They tried out adult's behaviour at such occasions. Children's death was not rare during the 19 t h-20 t h century. Children learned from their parents that death is part of life. They went for vigil the day before the funeral, stood around the catafalque and escorted their little companion to the cemetery. Those festival days were especially important in a child's life, on which the community accepted them as one of their members. One of these customs was the initiation of young men, which is practised still today in some regions. The condition was not the age but the achieved trials, a proof of their skills, strength and fastness to be judged by the community. The Protestant Church's most significant ceremony is the confirmation, which turns adolescent boys and girls to full-right members of the congregation. The youngsters got festive clothing for this occasion, which remained their most beautiful garb till their wedding day. The first "rite de passage" among Catholic children is the Holy Communion at the age of 6-7 years. This was the first time when the photographer made a picture of them. The photo was framed and hanged next to the mirror in the first room, among other family photos. After this, children became active participants of church ceremonies. Their duty was to pray regularly, to learn the church songs and to attend services. The Catholic confirmation took place later, when they were 13-14 year old. From the 2 n d half of the 19 t h century church societies became popular. The organisation called Mary's Congregation strengthened the religious thought among girls. The members called "Maria girls" wore white dress and crown in the services from the end of the 19 t h century. 13
