Istvánovits Eszter - Almássy Katalin (szerk.): A nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum Évkönyve 52. (Nyíregyháza, 2010)
Néprajz - Borzován Eszter: Nagyecsed hiedelemalakjai
Nagyecsed hiedelemalakjai Figures of folk beliefs in Nagyecsed Although the scientific research of Hungarian folk beliefs started as early as in the 19th century and many publications have appeared in this topic, there remained white spots in the research of beliefs from a geographical aspect. The same regards the figures of folk beliefs: this is why I chose the examination of the latter topic in a local community. No significant material connected with beliefs has been recorded in Nagyecsed. The descriptions in literary works in which the folk belief of the inhabitants of Ecsed appears are, however, significant (e.g. the novel Ördögszekér by Sándor Makkay and writings by Zsigmond Móricz and Mór Jókai). I started my research in 2007. The inhabitants of the small town of Nagyecsed belong to two ethnicities: Hungarian and gipsy. Regarding religion, the settlement shows a colourful picture: Calvinists, Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, Nazarenes live here. My objectives were the mapping of the figures of folk belief in Nagyecsed, their description and systemisation. Apart from a few exceptions, the older generation was asked in the form of deep interviews. In my study I give a detailed description of the beliefs connected with supernatural creatures and supernatural people that are still known in Nagyecsed, and then they are shortly analysed. I did not sharply separate the cognitive content of the beliefs and the belief actions. In certain bewitching stories belief actions are emphasised, so I also publish the belief actions linked with the figures. Eszter Borzován Debrecen H—4026 Hajó u. 2. 7/24. e-mail: besztilove@freemail.hu 297
