Easter, in Hungary, is a combination of ancient folklore celebrating spring’s renewal and fertility, the Holy Week with its focus on the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and the modern day Easter Bunny, who bringing goodies for the children.The Easter period begins on Palm Sunday, commemorating Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. In Hungary, the Holy Palm is replaced by pussy willow, as historically the Roman Catholic Church used those for blessings against curses and for healing.
On Good Friday, the Hungarians solemnly remember the crucifixion of Christ with a visit to their churches.
Holy Saturday marks the end of 40 days of fasting during lent. It was customary on this day to run into the garden and shake the fruit trees so that the old, bad harvest would fall and the new one would not be wormy. Today, children may hunt for the chocolate eggs, stuffed bunnies, or small toys which the Easter Bunny, who has been adapted from neighbouring countries, has hidden in the garden.
Join us today for an Easter Egg Hunt, followed by some Hungarian folk dance teaching circles!
Easter Sunday, the most religiously important day in Hungarian Easter celebrations, sees families attend Mass and gather to have a festive meal. A traditional Easter meal in Hungary often includes ham, served with horseradish; which symbolizes strength and rebirth, and hard-boiled eggs. You will also find a range of delicious breads, cakes and pastries, such as the famous Hungarian “Kalács.”
Join us today to purchase some traditional Hungarian foods, and buy some delicious cakes and pastries from our bake sale!
The Easter Eggs will also be prepared, usually on the Saturday or Sunday. For thousands of years, eggs have been regarded as symbols of life and the natural cycles of birth. Hungarian decorated eggs were originally almost always red because red symbolizes renewal and the sprouting of new life. Within the Christian tradition red symbolizes the blood of Christ, while the egg, eternal life. Other colours began to be used only three hundred years ago. Sometimes the eggs are dyed red by hard boiling them together with onion skins. You will also find that floral motifs from the various folk regions found in Hungary are often incorporated in the decorations. Other times eggs are decorated with simple geometric shapes or ancient symbols such as the wheel of the sun or the cockscomb.
Join us today for some child-friendly Easter crafts and egg decorating!
As Easter is closely tied to the arrival of spring and the celebration of rebirth, renewal and fertility the most notable Hungarian Easter folklore tradition is that of the ‘watering’. On Easter Monday groups of young men walk through the village, to ‘water’ unmarried women and girls so that they grow healthy and fertile. In anticipation the girls dressing in pretty clothes and await the unannounced arrival of their admirers, prepared with dyed or decorated eggs, homemade cookies and cakes, and maybe even some wine or pálinka. After the boys have carried out their ritual roles, they are offered their reward.
The dousing with water and the gift of eggs is an ancient pagan fertility symbol, far older than the Christian celebration of Easter. This custom originally involved young country farmhands who would throw a bucket of cold well water over girls of marriageable age, whether they wanted it or not. The girls scream and resist, but were secretly delighted.
Away from the villages, in more recent times and in city settings, the tradition evolved to include women of all ages and both married or unmarried, being visited by neighbors, work colleagues, relatives and friends. A small spritz of perfume or a water spray has mostly replaced the bucket of water. The ‘watering’ itself is done with permission. Males recite a watering poem, which is usually short and witty and ends in a request for permission. In exchange for the watering, they still receive decorated eggs, chocolates, drinks, or a combination of all of these.
Join us today while we partake in this Easter tradition of Locsolás!
Please note; This event will run parallel to the paid Hungarian Folkarts - Easter Egg Decorating Workshop which requires pre- registration. For more details on the workshop visit:
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Kellemes Húsvéti Ünnepeket!
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Hungarian Cultural Centre, 231 Forge Rd SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0S9, Canada
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