The programs can be visited free of charge.Continue reading
On May 1, the Szentendre Open-Air Museum (Skanzen, near Budapest) will celebrate spring by recreating the atmosphere of old-time folk festivals, with Maypole, carousels, and a traditional fair in its spacious market square and courtyards.
In addition to the fairy-tale performance of the Tintaló Circus, the Zanotta Art Association will also perform for the enjoyment of the youngest visitors, the Szentendre Open-Air Museum revealed. There will also be exciting activities for adults: gardening experts will talk about organic gardening and landscape architecture under the title Ask the Gardener. Visitors can also learn about planting and enjoy a thematic walk in the gardens.
Families and children can test their skills in skill games, craft sessions with natural materials and eco-friendly techniques, while the “Recycled Toys Garden” offers a chance to try out how to recycle or create something new with natural materials.
In the Skanzen, visitors can also take part in Maypole decorating and make dumplings. Both traditions are related to the customs of choosing partners.
The Maypole used to be cut down in the forest at night and set up in front of the girls’ houses at dawn. In many places, a single tall Maypole was erected only in front of the house of the judge and the priest or in front of the church, and a smaller one in the courtyards of the girls’ houses. The maypole was usually decorated with ribbons, handkerchiefs, flowers, and full bottles of wine before being buried in the ground or nailed to the gatehouse or well.
The point of dumpling-making was that girls tried to guess the name of their future husband: they would hide a boy’s name in each of the dumplings they made. Then, the dumpling that came up first in the cooking process gave away the name of their future husband.
The detailed program of the festival is available on the website of the Open-Air Museum.
Via MTI, Featured image: Pixabay