On the Nicholas Day at the renovated Halászó (Fishing) children’s terrace, was hosted within the National Hauszmann Program the traditional Advent fair and open-air exhibition for visitors at the Budavári Palace District.
The exhibition presents one of the most archaic Hungarian customs. Visitors to the exhibition can learn about this tradition, its origins and its various versions, among other things. The exhibition, which has now become traditional, strives every year to present the winter holidays from a new approach, this year was realized within close cooperation with the Museum of Ethnography. The purpose of the photo exhibition presented by Hanga Gebauer – curator of the exhibition, is to show the diversity of the folk customs of our region: visitors can meet the traditions of several ethnic groups and religious denominations, they can see, for example, how the Szeklers, Slovaks, Romanians, Matyos and Roma from Bukovina Moldavian Csangos, Swabians or the Bunyevacs celebrated and held prepared for the coming new year. It is also interesting that among the exhibited pictures there are also those taken from the turn of the century, from 1899 to 1968, which show the various customs from Nicholas Day to Epiphany.
… For centuries, December has heralded the end of the current and the beginning of the upcoming year. Popular rituals relating to this festive winter period in the Carpathian Basin have been shaped by both religious belief and folklore, based on the conviction that the rituals performed at the end of the year lead to good fortune in the year to come. Apart from the carnival period leading to the Great Lent, this part of the year claims the highest number of varied from dramatic rituals across Europe, including Hungary. These include visiting homes with Nativity scene while singing Xmas Carols … in Hungary as Bethlehem wassailing … which is still extremely popular.
… There are many traditions and beliefs associated with the ritual preparation to the Xmas table. According to popular belief, objects placed on the Xmas table or under the table are given magical powers. For example, the bread placed on the table … in some regions brioche (light sweet bread), helps the family to have something to put on the table all year around. When the holiday end, only then was allowed to take off the items.
The entire exhibition can be viewed at two locations in the Palace Quarter: on the terrace of the Halászó (Fishing) children, the customs closely related to the Xmas Holidays. Also on the terrace of the Southern Panorama of the Várkert Bazaar the traditions associated with Advent and the New Year can be viewed. The Ethnography Museum’s application, helps family preparation and pedagogical work, available online with additional photos, films, game and craft ideas: https://www.teliunnepkor.org/
Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 