EASTER IN EASTER IN HUNGARYHUNGARY

The Hungarians call Lent the The Hungarians call Lent the Great Fast.Great Fast. During Lent it was forbidden to eat any meat. During Lent it was forbidden to eat any meat. Therefore the day before Ash Wednesday is Therefore the day before Ash Wednesday is called the called the Meat Abandoning Tuesday.Meat Abandoning Tuesday.

On Palm Sunday, it was customary to On Palm Sunday, it was customary to bless the various flowers of the season. bless the various flowers of the season. In fact, the flowers are still mentioned In fact, the flowers are still mentioned after the prayer of blessing. Thus, the after the prayer of blessing. Thus, the name name Flower SundayFlower Sunday is used in is used in Hungary. Hungary.

Good Good Friday was spent in total fast almost Friday was spent in total fast almost allall over the country. By the time over the country. By the time Good Good FridayFriday had arrived the house was clean, had arrived the house was clean, the baking completed and the eggs the baking completed and the eggs decorateddecorated. .

Holy SaturdayHoly Saturday was - still is - the day of was - still is - the day of blessing of the food. In a food basket smoked blessing of the food. In a food basket smoked ham, red eggs [=decorated eggs] and salt, in ham, red eggs [=decorated eggs] and salt, in some places also wine is taken to the church to some places also wine is taken to the church to be blessed. This food will be eaten after the be blessed. This food will be eaten after the resurrection ceremonies resurrection ceremonies

Easter is referred to as the Easter is referred to as the Festival of MeatFestival of Meat . . On this day meat can be eaten again after thOn this day meat can be eaten again after the e

longlong fast(40days). fast(40days).

Hungarian children exchange Hungarian children exchange decorated eggsdecorated eggs as a token of their friendship at Easter. as a token of their friendship at Easter.

Hungarian men often decorate and present eggs Hungarian men often decorate and present eggs themselves - gifts that the girls would treasurethemselves - gifts that the girls would treasure forfor

manymany years. years.

Easter MondayEaster Monday (Dousing Day, Water Plunge (Dousing Day, Water Plunge Monday) is the main reason for which eggs Monday) is the main reason for which eggs are decorated in Hungary. Boys surprise the are decorated in Hungary. Boys surprise the girls by dousing them thoroughly with bottles of girls by dousing them thoroughly with bottles of water.water.

It was expected that the girls accept this all well and It was expected that the girls accept this all well and reward their tormentors with reward their tormentors with decorated eggsdecorated eggs, bread and , bread and a glass of brandy/wine - or all three. The dousing was a glass of brandy/wine - or all three. The dousing was supposed to make of them good future wives with many supposed to make of them good future wives with many children. children.

Mostly every village had its own egg-decorating Mostly every village had its own egg-decorating artist , an old woman who had done the work all her artist , an old woman who had done the work all her

life. Who were not very skilled couldn’t getlife. Who were not very skilled couldn’t get thethe decorateddecorated egg from her. egg from her.

At Easter we wish one another:At Easter we wish one another:

HAPPY EASTER AND MANY RED HAPPY EASTER AND MANY RED EGGS!EGGS!