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

church, once more to the sound of bells. Here they receive the sacrament of Holy Communion, and return home. XPV Ascension day The fortieth day after Easter is the feast of the Ascension of Christ into heaven, which may be traced to apostolic tradition, and from the middle of the 4th century became a special feast day, separate from Pentecost. In Reformed communities in the 1950s and 1960s, confirmation was held on this day, which is a ceremonial strengthening and declaration to be adults of young church members. This became general in the 18th century. It is a condition that the young people may regularly partake of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, as full members of the church. The age of the confirmands is generally 12-15 years. Confirmation developed from the teaching, putting into practice and testing of Biblical knowledge, articles of faith and catechism. The catechism, known since 1576, contains the articles of faith, which are taught to prepare the children for confirmation. Questions are put to assure the minister and the congregation that these have been acquired. This examination takes place in a ceremonial framework, which is followed by the taking of vows and a blessing. Our film has recorded confirmation in Szentkirályszabadja, which is a celebration not only for the young people and their families, but also for the whole congregation. Participation in the first communion following this, generally takes place on Pentecost Sunday, when the newly confirmed always take part for the first time in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The pictures of the distribution of communion at Pentecost were taken in the Szentgál Reformed church. XV. Pentecost The crown of the Easter cycle of feasts is Pentecost. The name originates from the Greek pentecoste (fiftieth). Along with Easter, it is the second oldest festival, the day of the coming and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the comforter. At the same time, it is a special day at the gateway of summer; the profane practices associated with it belong to the cycle of customs to welcome the spring and open the quarter year. Their aim was to ensure the productivity of crops and animals, and to remove or drive away trouble and sickness by magical and symbolic acts. Our film shows representatives of three different types of Whitsuntide customs, in the rich combination of former practices. The local version of the green branch walk in Vigántpetend is „lilies in the hair" the original aim of which is the same as that of the green branch walk: the enclosing of the settlement in a magical ring, the expulsion of winter and its associated troubles with the aid of the green branch, and the welcoming of spring, sunshine, warmth and summer. During lilies in the hair, green branches are broken off from