Fügedi Márta: A gyermek a matyó családban (Borsodi Kismonográfiák 29. Miskolc, 1988)

this time became „young men". Initiation of young men had a ritual ceremony in Mezőkövesd, it was the „new young man's drink". Young men first dressed in the magnificent young man's suit have a drink at a wedding, it means they buy wine for the „older" young men who receive them into their company with shaking their hands and slapping them on the back. Marriageable girls and young men right at the beginning of adulthood reached the peak of their life. This period of life lasts only a few months or years until the wedding but during this time both the girls and the boys are in the centre of interest and attention of the community as if they were living in a „shop-window". They acquired the knowledge of the adults, they became workers of full value. Besides they have more and freer opportunities for entertainment and being together than at any time earlier. Of course the bounds of possibilities were fixed by the traditions and the moral standards of the community. At the same time work and entertainment together produced an opportunity to show personal values and virtues. Skilful, hard-working, quick-handed young people had a good reputation and a greater value

. Appearance

, dressing and behaviour were also important standards of value. But the different forms of being together first of all secured the opportunity for choosing one's partner. The author also deals with the details of dressing - so much important in this age - and the local beauty ideal, with the making up of the trousseau. Compliance with the moral standards and appropriate behaviour was important for girls first of all. In this age gains spinning much significance for it meant work and entertainment at the same time although in Mezőkövesd it lost from its significance at the turn of the century because of sewing. Presenting season work the author emphasizes that „matyó" people preserved their customs, traditions, connection in spite of the fact that they left their village community and worked at another place. The order of the group of season workers mirrored the home arrangement and restrictions even among the changed circumstances. The different traditional forms of entertainment played a prominent role in the life of young people mainly in winter. Various rules and formalities of courting and emotional connection were formed and it was compulsory to conform to them. Within the accepted limits young people could express and assert their emotions and they also could prove them with presents. But marrying was not influenced by these emotions, the parents'expectations and will, status and property decided in it. „Matyó" people lived in strict endogamy so marrying had severe local and property restrictions the violation of which was not advisable. So „matyó" children were born and grew up in a peculiar society with many layers which society at the same time endeavoured to keep and follow local traditions, standards and customs uniformly. Their growing up was determined by the economic situation of their parents but the children of both season workers and landed farmers tried to realize the same ideals manifested in customs, behaviour and dressing as well. The phrase „Let 116