Magyar News, 2001. szeptember-2002. augusztus (12. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2002-06-01 / 10. szám
A scene in Mohács as the bosós march through the town. Photo: Peter Komiss formed marching bands, and many others including alot of children. My intention was to visit Mohács this winter and to see for myself this terrific part of Hungarian culture. After a lengthy visit to Hungary, I had the opportunity to go to Mohács. My experience and learning about the huso customs I tried to put into the article for my readers. Wonderful Farsang Vasarnap in Mohács was experienced by my folks and me via a trip on an Ibusz tour bus departing from Heroes Square in Budapest, visits inculded Szekszárd, a wine region city with a lovely Roman Catholic church and scenic and picturesque views of the surrounding countryside from a lookout, a restaurant Erzsébet Söröző in Boly, the Mohácsi Memorial Battlefield Monument, and finally the town of Mohács for the much-awaited focal point and exciting climax of the tour-busójárás. The practice of busójárás is performed in Mohács by the Sokac people and it is found as well in Slovenia and Croatia also. The legend and belief also exists that this frightful ferocity was a battle technique to inspire fear in the troops of the Ottoman Turks to force their retreat and rid them from the land. The Busójárás Carnival in Mohács was a 6-day celebration this year (February 7-12). It started with a Thursday opening, then KisFarsang (little carnival) Friday, then the biggest day being Farsang vasarnap which occurs on the 7th Sunday before Easter, and it ended with Farsang Temetés (Burial) Tuesday. The extensive schedule of events, programs, and attractions was listed on Mohacs.hu, the city’s website. The day’s celebrations included a parade of wild, fierce, ferocious, frightening noise-making busójárás. They were wearing grotesque masks with real horns and carved of wood and painted by local craftsmen and they were also wearing big animal-skin furs and cowbells. They were walking and riding carriages, even with a coffin called busó temető. Some of the busos offered fank donuts stuck on the end of pitchforks and some would gently wack females with an object representing a symbol of fertility. Also during the festival, the busós would ride in boats on the Danube River. There was a ton of people watching the parade of busó-járos which went down a main street which led to a central square next to an Orthodox Church. The main street was lined with vendors and we were surely delighted to be able to buy a mask, fur, noise-maker, and other related items. There was also a stage where the Mayor of Mohács gave us his welcoming and where dance groups performed to music in different beautiful styles of dress. Even the busos took to the stage to make merry during the festivities! There was cannon-fire and some witches were also running around playing tricks in the square and even a white-masked Saint Lucy made an appearance during the parade. As the evening was to grow dark, a huge bonfire in the middle of the square would be lit, a straw dummy representing winter would be burned in effigy, and the busók would proceed to dance around the fire to the amazement and astonishment of the spectators. There were more busojáros participating this year than ever before. I also would like to devote myself to keeping these wonderful customs alive for the next generations to enjoy. TjaRGHKIHR FESTUVKL NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ The Annual Hungarian Festival sponsored by the Hungarian Churches and Societies of New Brunswick, NJ will take place on Saturday, June 1st, begins at 11 :00 AM This renowned celebration of Magyar food, entertainment, culture and pride is celebrated in the Hungarian section of New Brunswick on Somerset Street. The Opening Ceremonies will take place at the bandstand. The Festival concludes at 8:00 PM. Saint Emery's Parish -Fairfield, CT is sponsoring a Bus Trip on Dattco buses to the Hungarian Festival. The Bus will leave at 8:30 AM from Saint Emery's Church -Biro Street Fairfield. This will give those who desire to attend the Hungarian Mass at Saint Ladislaus, ample time to get to the Bus. Coming back the bus will depart at 6:30 PM from the Hungarian Heritage Museum, New Brunswick -. The cost of the trip will be $20.00. This provides a relaxing afternoon with leaving all the travel up to us. Please make your reservation by calling Saint Emery's Parish Office at (203)334-0312.Checks are payable to:St. Emery's Church. Please make your reservations as Soon As Possible so that ample seating may be found for whomever wishes to join us. t > SECOND ROUND IN THE HUNGARIAN ELECTION I ■ Budapest, April 22 (MTI) - The second round of the parlia*1 mentary elections was valid and successful in each of the 0 131 individual constituencies on Sunday, The National <» Election Committee (NEC) said: 73.47% of eligible voters — 1 * in 2,169 settlements, altogether 4.365 million people -- cast (. their ballots. The preliminary results are: Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Party (FIDESZ) - Hungarian Democratic Forum (HDF) joint ° ticket: 188 seats; Hungarian Socialist Party (HSP): 178 < > seats; Alliance of Free Democrats (AFD) - 19 seats; HSP -< * AFD joint ticket: 1 seat. iS The Fidesz-HDF ticket won 95 individual constituencies, 67 _ regional seats and 26 seats on the national list. The HSP won 78 individual constituencies, 69 regional seats and 31 seats on 5! the national list. The AFD won 2 individual constituencies, 4 < * regional seats and 13 seats on the national list. One seat went í to a candidate on the joint HSP-AFD ticket. ,, The Fidesz-HDF joint ticket won 48.70% of seats in parliament, the HSP 46.11%, the AFD 4.92% and the HSP-AFD joint ticket 0.26%. Page 7 1
