William Penn Life, 2014 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2014-06-01 / 6. szám
by Kathy Megyeri Ever since I was a child delighting in Halloween costumes, I've been in love with masks. So, when I first started visiting Hungary in the 1960's, I gravitated to the intricately carved wooden busó masks found throughout the country and displayed in Budapest's Central Market. I also found that historical records contain more information about carnival festivities than about any other Hungarian tradition. Both Church and secular authorities condemned the custom of wearing carnival masks, claiming they incited too much noise making, increased disturbances and fostered outrageous behaviors. Therefore, the practice of wearing masks was often forbidden. Despite this condemnation—or maybe because of it—the carnival mask tradition still flourishes, as they are extensively used in village performances. To this day, the most striking feature of festivities in Hungary and other European countries is the masked mummery. The wearing of masks, as well as the exchange of clothes between men and women and various forms of animal disguises, are mentioned in documents dating as early as the 15th century. Everywhere in Hungary, carnivals with costumes and masks were performed, from the king's court to the smallest village. During the reign of King Matthias (1458-1490), the Italian relatives of his wife, Queen Beatrix, sent beautifully made masks as presents to their Hungarian relatives. In the court of King Louis II up until the battle of Mohács in 1526, when the Turks waged a decisive attack against the Hungarians and killed King Louis, great carnivals occurred. On Shrove Tuesday in 1525, King Louis himself appeared at the festivities wearing a devil's mask. Today, the most spectacular parade of the carnival season is the busó procession performed by the Southern Slavs living in Mohács. The participants appear in carved wooden masks and follow a ritual pattern of movement and behavior. The busó masks were originally worn only Photos: (top) busó masks in Mohács, Hungary, photo by Qji; (top, right) mask from the author’s collection, photo by Kathy Megyeri; (bottom) parade reveler in Mohács circa 1970, photo by Kathy Megyeri. by Sokac men along with their heavy woolen garments, but it was the animal masks that were particularly striking. Bear, horse, goat and stork disguises are still the most popular among the mummers. The players generally perform short stories to accompany the procession: for example, an "owner" takes his "horse" or "goat" to market, and while he is bargaining, the animal collapses and dies but is brought to life again by the sound of music. Other disguises are also worn during village carnivals. Some are made from stockings, rags or paper. Comic funerals and mock weddings are performed during the carnival season, and some of the more popular characters are a robber, gypsy woman, bride, old man or woman with a baby. The most striking ceremony is the mock wedding in Transdanubia, where the "newlyweds" are carried through the village on a log. Sometimes, special parades are held for only women and girls. The Palots living in the Karancs Mountain region in northern Hungary used to hold a "girls' Sunday." After dinner on Sunday, the girls traveled around the village carrying sticks while singing greetings. Their songs were religious in nature and made requests for donations. Dancing followed in the evening. Most of the festivities at the carnivals, however, are connected to marriage. At some ceremonies, it is customary to ridicule the girls who are still unmarried. In Szatmár, for example, on Shrove Tuesday, the boys clanged pieces of tin together below the windows of single girls, shouting: "If you have a grown-up daughter, pack her off to the fields." On my last visit to Hungary, I started to collect the grotesque, wooden busó masks because I appreciated the intricate carving, horns and wool used to decorate them. Recently, I've been able to find miniatures of them that are worn as pendants. As opposed to our Mardi Gras celebrations and Halloween masks, the busó creations offer an insight into Hungarian carnival traditions. No doubt, the intricately carved busó masks that hang in our home may someday become collector's items as the materials and workmanship become a lost art. William Penn Life 0 June 2014 0 11
