How to Study Hungarian Traditions
The traditions of Hungary are rich and varied, as is the culture. There are some customs we have borrowed from the Hungarians and many Hungarians now follow American customs. But most of the folkways are still in existence today, accented by the beautiful and colorful painted furniture, houses and embroidered clothing.
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Instructions
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Understand most of the traditions are rooted in the Catholic religion. The Christmas lights and decorations are placed inside the house, not outside. The Christmas tree is decorated on Christmas Eve either by the entire family or after the children have gone to bed, and they are told an angel brings the tree. Christmas day is celebrated with members of the immediate family.
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Watch the New Year's celebration. On New Year's Eve day Hungarians make straw men called "Jack Straw" who symbolizes the evils of the past year. The effigies are paraded all over town during the day, and then burned on New Year's Eve. There are parties and at midnight everyone sings the national anthem. This day is also called "Szilveszter" (Silvester) because it falls on the feast day of St. Silvester.
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Note the interesting Easter traditions in Hungary. They have a customer called "sprinkling" in which the girls, dressed in folk costume, are chased by the boys, who douse them with pails of water. These days they usually use cologne, and the girl who gets "sprinkled" the most wins. They also paint beautiful Easter eggs, using the batik method, or by wrapping a leaf around it before dipping it in paint.
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Consider yourself lucky if you are Hungarian; you not only have a birthday but also a "name" day. Birthdays are usually celebrated with family, but name days are large celebrations and people bring gifts, candy or flowers. A name day is a day chosen by your parents because it is a day dedicated to a saint, a historical event or is shared by someone famous who has the same name.
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Imagine a traditional Hungarian wedding. Long ago the groom had to go to each guest's house and invite him to the wedding personally, speaking in rhyme! The bride and groom still may go to family, neighbors and close friends and personally invite them. The civil ceremony must come first in Hungary, and then everyone parades over to the church for the religious ceremony.
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