Easter traditions in Hungary

Easter is one of the most important religious holidays of the year in Hungary, when we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The hungarian word for Easter is “Húsvét”. It comes from the combination of two words: meat and take, since after 40 days of fasting you can finally eat meat. The period of fasting is originally the time to prepare for the pain and resurrection of Jesus. At this time not only the meat consumption, but also the weddings and other events with music were forbidden. Easter indicates the end of this period, so it has to be commemorated well. As a result, traditions have developed and survived in Hungary.

Easter Sunday

Traditionally, Hungarians eat smoked, cooked ham with hard boiled eggs and horseradish on Easter Sunday. In many houses, they eat brioche type bread as a festive food. The brioche also can be made in a sweet version filled with walnuts and poppy seeds. The pictures below show what our traditional Easter festive table looks like. We also typically make a carrot cake on this day.

Easter Monday

It is a folk habit in Hungary and in the surrounding countries for boys water girls on Easter Monday. The origin of the habit dates back to old times. It is based on the cleansing and renewing power of water. A few decades ago the most common form was watering from a bucket or the girls were taken to a trough. Today in most places the bucket of water has been replaced by cologne or real perfume, but in rural settlements you can still hear the screams of girls being sprinkled with soda water on Easter Monday.

source: likefestoon.com

According the tradition the girls were waiting for their sprinklers in their traditional costumes or most beautiful clothes. When the boys went watering the girls, they said a poem and after that the younger ones got decorated eggs and cakes and the adults were usually given some hand-made alcoholic drink. If the boys came late, after 12 pm, the girls and women got the chance to pour water on them. Egg painting

Egg painting was a favourable activity amongst girls. Originally they used natural paints made from onion, cabbage or the walnut leaves. In the past, they used various techniques which took a lot of time to make the painted eggs for their watering boys. With the development of technology, eggs made with natural paints were slowly replaced by those made with artifical paints. Nowadays, this is no longer a habit in cities, and in many places the girls give chocolate eggs for watering instead of painted eggs. They often give a little bit of money as well.

source: peakshop.hu source: pestbudai.atw.hu

The tradition is even more lively in the countryside and villages, but watering lasted a long time also in the urban environment. It is still a common tradition today especially in the circle of relatives and friends but many people prefer to travel at Easter to avoid watering and the lengthy preparation.

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