Wicker Erika (szerk.): Cumania 26. - A Kecskeméti Katona József Múzeum évkönyve (Kecskemét, 2013)
Néprajz - Merinu Éva: A zsidó családoknál szolgáló hajósi sváb cselédlányok életkörülményei a 20. század első felében
Merinu Éva Éva Merinu LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE SWABIA MAIDS FROM HAJÓS, SERVING JEWISH FAMILIES IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20™ CENTURY The majority of the Swabia maids came from poor peasant families with many children. Financial difficulties of the families and poverty drove them to this work. At first the girls became maids between 12 and 16 years old. The length of service at a family was usually for one year. A new job was based on acquaintances and through the mediation of relatives and friends. The Swabia girls from Hajós went to serve at Jewish families in Baja, Császártöltés, Kalocsa, Miske, Kecel, Sükösd and Dusnok. Most of the maids lived with the Jewish families. The majority of the Swabia maids had a very good relationship with their employer and the Jewish families valued the hard-working maids Work always took precedence in the life of house-maids over all else and it completely filled the maids' daily lives. The younger Swabia girls were often called to work as a nursemaid, and the older ones were involved in all kinds of work. For the maids it was a challenge to get to know the kosher kitchen, to respect the unusual cooking, washing-up, storage and serving traditions. As a consequence they were often also in conflict with their employer. They viewed with curiosity the Jewish religious customs and holidays, and often did not understand why and what they were doing. They became mainly acquainted with the traditions and regulations of the Sabbath and became an active part during the preparation for it as well as its prohibitions. Most of the maids lived with the Jewish families and ate with them. During the year they could go home only twice: at Easter or at Pentecost, and for the Hajós fair. Their only opportunity for entertainment was common conversation with other maids on Sunday afternoon in the town centre or visiting the cinema. Most of the girls' period as maids ended in marriage. In spite of their Christian religion, most of them really had a great time in the Jewish families, because despite their daily work, they could eat properly and there was meat on the table every day in contrast to the poor diet at home. The Jewish families valued them highly for their hard- work and they treated the Swabia maids from Hajós humanely. 212
