S. Lackovits Emőke: Az egyházi esztendő jeles napjai, ünnepi szokásai a bakonyi és Balaton- felvidéki falvakban (Veszprém, 2000)

Festivals, holidays and customs of the ecclesiastical year

in use since the 9th century. The film was taken in Magyarpolány, in the house of János Meiczinger. In this village, the consecration of the house takes place in front of the Christmas tree, as the tree is usually only taken down at Candlemas. At the beginning of the 20th century, homes were also fumigated with consecrated incense on this day. VI. Candlemas The closing feast of the Christmas cycle of festivals is Candlemas on February 2, the memorial feast of purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Jesus in the temple, which has been kept in the Hungarian language territory since the 11th century. Christianity has honoured this day as a festival since the 4th century. Its predecessor was the ancient Roman Amburbale, which involved a torch-light procession. Candlemas was intended to oppose this. Since the 10th century, candles have been blessed at this time. The ceremony used to involve a procession, the remains of which is to walk round the church interior with lighted candles. In our film Candlemas has also been recorded in Magyarpolány. At the morning mass, the members of the consistory stand in a half circle around the altar, and take the previously prepared, lighted candles into their hands. The priest blesses these together with those of the faithful. After this, the members of the consistory together with the priest and an altar boy holding a decorated crucifix, holding lighted candles, process round the church while the faithful sing. The consecrated candle is in fact one of the main sacraments, and accompanies man throughout his life. They are generally held as joined pairs. Earlier, they were lit beside the seriously ill, the dying and the dead, and even in the case of thunderstorm. In villages with German minority, the festival is called "Lichtmess". For this occasion, characteristic, thin, yellow and white, rolled candles were consecrated, which were known as „Wachssteckl" or „Wachsstock". These were lit at Candlemas, at requiem mass, and on All Souls day. They were also taken to the graves of relatives. In Magyarpolány, the last day of the accommodation seeking was also held at Candlemas. VII. Women's carnival Throughout Europe, the period lasting from Epiphany to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the six week Lent before Easter, is carnival time, which fills in the season between the Christmas and Easter festival cycles. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and is therefore also the start of a quarter year. These customs may be traced to various feasts of pagan times, the associated superstitions and magical practices involving driving out evil, prevention of disaster, fertility and prosperity spells. The two main characteristics of the carnival customs