Arrabona - Múzeumi közlemények 31-33. (Győr, 1994)

S. Lackovits Emőke: A „szentsarok” a Fertő-menti magyar parasztszobában

The Area of Worship inside Hungarian Peasant Homes along the shores of Lake Fertő In a similar way to the Hungarian-speaking area along Lake Fertő, the inner space of a peasant room in a Hungarian village can be divided into functional areas from which a space of worship is chreated with a table and its surroundings, diagonally opposite the stove, or in a parallel order, where the holy area is made up of the surface of the wall above the chest of drawers. In the case of this space being enclosed by the use of the table and corner benches, we could call it the "holy corner". According to the results of excavations, this part of the house facing the stove was already well separated in the early Middle Ages in the form of sitting niches where the sacrifice of construction has come to light. An inventory of the 18 th century shows, both in farm and town houses, some sets of objects and pieces of furniture, in an order, from which we may conclude the existence of a separate space of worship. Interior decoration along the shores of Lake Fertő had been generally characterized by the polar arrangement and diagonal order in which teh worship area was faced by the stove, until the middle of the 20th century. Portraits of the Holy family (Jesus and Virgin Mary) along with the Disciples and Patron Saints used to hang there. Later on in the 20th century those portraits were supplemented by historical pictures, plus military as well as family photographs. On the basis of ethnography studies on Fertőszéplak, Sarród, Süttör and Fertőendréd it may be said, independently from the outfitting methods in use at the time, that a division of areas was generally in existence. Nevertheless the placement of certain areas (holy, working or relaxation) depended on a style of furnishing. The existence of a religious space within European homes, however, is a distinguishing feature, and its placement is always determined by style of outfitting. Consequently, Europe may be divided into regions using this criterion, wherein the most protected areas were always enclosed by a religious one. This was also the case in the Hungarian-speaking domain. Within the region examined it was noticed that in some special cases the space was larger; but only transitionally, as in the case of a bed for a mother who had recently delivered a baby, or a catafalque in the home. We can, however, speak of the worth of a religious space in relation to its displacement or greater importance when other parts of the home are relieved of their original function. The sacred area used to be the scene of everyday religious family and individual life; the objects placed there motivated people to prayer, keeping religion alive. Religious education was also supported, while the consecrated place also played a mystical role in averting danger, giving an added aesthetic appeal at the same time. 263