A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Ethnographica 4. (Szeged, 2003)

Markos Gyöngyi: A karácsonyi ünnepkör szokásai Makón

Traditional Christmas festivities in Makó by GYÖRGYI MARKOS Lying on the River Maros, Makó is a market town in the south-eastern part of the Great Hungarian Plain. Onion cultivation has made it world-famous. A style of living shaped by onion cultivation and selling helped to create a broad urban outlook among the people of the town. Here, the urban style of living accelerated the decline of some traditions more rapidly than those in more close-knit communities. Our study describes Makó'

s Christmas traditions. An abundance of traditions, customs and superstitions related to Christmas, the most cherished holiday for Christians and the time of Advent preceding it, can be easily traced against the backdrop of an emerging urban middle-class group. St Andrew's Day marked the beginning of Advent. This was also the day for guessing prospective future husbands. Young ladies tried to foretell the name, appearance and characteristics of their future husbands either by means of cooking plum-filled dumplings or through their dreams. It was customs related to St Luca'

s Day and Christmas Eve that survived the longest in Makó. The ones linked with St Luca'

s Day mainly had to do with magic and a long list of taboos concerning poultry. For instance, at dawn hens had to be nudged with a hot poker so that they would lay more eggs than the neighbour's hens. They had to be fed inside wheel rims so that they would lay eggs in the same coops. Sewing was, strictly forbidden on this day for fear of sewing up hens so they would be no longer able to lay eggs. Forecasts of death and love and for the weather were just as important. So were various superstitions relating to what is called Luca'

s chair. Activities commencing on St Luca'

s Day and lasting until Christmas were part of the preparation for Christmas. Most of these rites are no longer performed. What is left includes the traditions of sowing Luca wheat, the grains of which sprout by Christmas, baking savoury Luca scones and noting the weather of the 12 days following St Luca'

s Day. Between the two world wars a special performance of the nativity play evolved. Carrying a largesized crib, a large group went from door to door to herald the birth of Jesus Christ. The story that they related was of a profane rather than religious nature. Preparations for the holiday became more urban, as did the holiday itself. The description of the complex nature of Christmas festivities is based on memoirs and was assisted by a few Roman Catholic families who still observe old traditions. Dishes (like white bean soup and 'mákosguba' - chunks of croissants soaked in milk and sprinkled with poppy seeds and castor sugar) were often prepared and served during Lent. Staple foods also included garlic, honey and apples, to which magical - mainly healing - powers were attributed. Later fed to animals, wheat, hay, straw and sometimes onions in breadbaskets (later in boxes) were placed under tables. Christmas presents were more modest and simple than they are today. So were Christmas tree decorations, which more often than not included honey cakes, small pretzels and Christmas sweets. On 28

th December, the Day of Minor Saints, birching was the order of the day in Makó too. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day saw a series of activities intended to bring wealth and prosperity to people in the new year. Christmas festivities ended on 6

th January, when water and houses were blessed and decorations were removed from Christmas trees. In Makó, it was customary to place them in the lofts of hen houses so as to ensure good health for the animals. 206