Gaál Attila (szerk.): A Wosinszky Mór Múzeum Évkönyve 25. (Szekszárd, 2003)

Nagy István: A szatmári betlehemes játékok dramaturgiája

István Nagy Summary This study is about the Hungarian, Rumanian and Swabian nativity plays of the Szatmár region in Rumania. Pastorales, Herod plays, Adam-Eve plays and a puppet-dance nativity play in Halmi are still played in the area of research. The author outlines the customs related to the nativity plays of the region, their distinguishing features, he examines in detail those structural, formal changes these plays have undergone during the years. He tracks down the development of the former church miracle plays, their wandering from Western-Europe to the east and how they became part of the folk culture, how they filled with pagan and popular elements. A special feature in these plays is their combination with other end-of-year animal mummery traditions, masked plays. In the final part of the study the reader is given a conclusion of the present situation of the nativity plays, their survival within the traditional groups. 91