The point of the event is to revitalize Central European Easter traditions like sprinkling and other folk programs.Continue reading
The Open-Air Museum in Szentendre (near Budapest) will evoke the old village Easter celebrations with traditional Easter “sprinkling,” Easter craft activities, and a spring festival on Easter Sunday and Monday.
The Hungarian ethnographic museum, also called Skanzen, will present both Christian traditions and spring folk customs. In addition to fairy tales, concerts, and craft activities, the Kaláka ensemble and Ági Szalóki and her orchestra will perform for children in the Skanzen.
The museum’s statement recalls that the period before Easter – in addition to being a religious holiday, is also a time of renewal and waiting for spring – is associated with a number of beliefs and folk customs. In the Holy Week before Easter, people used to tidy up their gates and cleaned their houses so that they could attend church services from Maundy Thursday.
In the Skanzen, the atmosphere of the Easter “sprinkling” and the spring festivities will be brought to life by the dancers of the Lajta folk dance group from Mosonmagyaróvár (northwestern Hungary).
During the stage program, Szende Csernik and László Gulyás will tell Easter stories and tales. On Easter Sunday, Sára Tímár’s Orchestra, Szilvia Bognár and Klára Csernók’s Band will give a concert. The BaHorka Ensemble and the Berka Orchestra will perform, and there will also be a craft fair and a performance by stilt walkers.
The craft activities will focus on decorating Easter eggs.
Visitors will be able to learn about egg decorating motifs of the Hutsul people, as well as traditions from Gheorgheni (Gyergyó), Transcarpathia, and Bulgaria.
There will be an Easter mystery tour, an Easter playground, a seal collecting game, and a smelling-water demonstration.
On Easter Sunday, there will be a Catholic service at the Catholic Church in Óbudavár and a Reformed service at the Reformed Church in Mándi on Monday. Visitors can also take a church tour of the churches of the Skanzen.
During the spring break, between April 17-27, the museum is preparing a spring theme week, which will include Easter preparations and post-Easter customs.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt