A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve 30. 2004-2005 (Debrecen, 2005)
Tanulmányok - Major Zoltán László: Adatok a Bocskai-hagyományokhoz Hajdú és Bihar megyékben
70 Major Zoltán László: Adatok a Bocskai-hagyományokhoz... Data for the Bocskai-traditions in Hajdú and Bihar counties Zoltán László Major In his introductory remarks the author establishes that development of the traditions already commenced in the years after the death of the Prince. Following this he gives some of the data originating from the 17-th century. The following section discusses the preserving of traditions, handing down of the Hajdú traditions and the struggles pursued for the Hajdú freedom, viewed from a one-century perspective. After this follows a calling up of the past from the 19-th century, in which besides enlivening of the traditions, the villages and town meeting struggling for the Hajdú freedom are also mentioned. Several of them endeavour to certify their crested letters received from Bocskai. The consciousness of the descendents of the former hajdús is enlivened in the intellectual life of the reform era, but mainly however in the fight for freedom of 1848-49 as is shown by the literature. The traditions lived on in the second half of the 19-th century both in writing and orally. The author also remarks that the role of tradition „is enforced vigorously at the level of popular consciousness, customs and beliefs also”. It is known that at the turn of the century the triumph of the independence conception follows, but however this becomes increasingly just an outward appearance. The political events also strengthen the sphere of the independence conception. The reminiscences themselves are also continually connected with the Hajdú consciousness. At the same time however, the first works are already appearing, discussing the life of Bocskai and written with scholarly thoroughness. The period after Trianon attributes a particularly big role to the heroic past and assertion of the national honour. In Central and East Europe however this period is already the era of development of the totalitarian regime. Even if this type of regime is not yet developed in Hungary, similar social systems are being organised in our surroundings. The interpretation of these is also mentioned in connection with the traditions of independence. However the paper mentions some features of the ideology of the dictatorship developing after 1945, and the manipulative utilisation of the national traditions of independence for this. Finally we can read a brief presentation of some local historical data, various reminiscences and programmes. Then the author emphasises that the traditions uplifting the past are particularly important in the intellectual value-preserving and value-bearing attitude of the 21-st century.
