Welcome back to History Undressed, our regular first Tuesday blogger and author, Kathleen Bittner Roth! Kathleen Bittner Roth!
HALOTTAK NAPJA
A Very
Different Holiday Atmosphere
by Kathleen Bittner Roth
Tradition and ceremony is the ‘glue’ that binds families and
nations together. Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated with the
traditions and ceremonies upheld by various cultures. As an author who is
single, and with an adult child married and living a life of his own, my
circumstances allow me to live wherever I choose. Even though I am an American
through and through, I currently reside in beautiful Budapest, Hungary. As I
write this post, I am in the midst of a two-day, national holiday that is part
of a tradition that has gone on for centuries, and still impacts the culture to
this day.
While children in the U.S. are dressing up in costumes,
carving pumpkins, and seeking candy treats, Eastern Europe is embracing a
rather somber celebration. As a Catholic nation
since the 11th century, Hungary takes the holiday very seriously. Shops,
schools and businesses are closed November first for All Saints' Day, and again
on November second for All Souls' Day. Families gather together, many of them
travelling long distances.
November first, All Saints' Day, means families attend
church to remember the saints and their dearly departed. Come evening, people
collect in cemeteries to place flowers on the graves of loved ones and burn
specially decorated candles to help the departed souls find their way to
everlasting light. Years ago, it was traditional for families to have a
sumptuous feast at the gravesite and leave food and drink for the departed, so
it is not unusual to see the tradition still taking place with some families.
We expats, with no descendants amongst the departed, make a
pilgrimage to the cemeteries right beside the Hungarians. Especially to the famous Kerepesi Cemetery, coined a ‘decorative’
cemetery because it contains ancient wooden graves known as ‘kopfa’ which date
back to the original Magyars, and carved boats symbolizing the journey down the
river of death. This cemetery is also the resting place of many influential
Hungarian figures.
As dismal as this tradition might seem, it is not. It is, in
fact, quietly festive. The cemeteries are strung with lights, while a host of
candles, lanterns, and flowers are set in place. The resulting beauty of the
grounds is breathtaking. The lights, lanterns and candles are left to burn at
least until the next day, which is All Souls' Day, (also known as Day of the
Dead in many countries).
In Hungary, this somber holiday tradition is called
Hallottak Napja. In Poland, All Saints Day is known as Dzien Wszystkich
Swietych and All Souls Day is known as Zaduszki, when doors and windows are
left open to welcome the spirits of the dead. Cemeteries are visited as well, and
in Poland a kind of bread called Panska Skorka is sold at the entrance to the
cemeteries. Translated the words mean “the Lord’s Crust.”
While the black cat in the U.S. is a symbol of Halloween,
and accompanies a witch as her “familiar”, in Russia, the black cat and blue
cat (Burmese, Russian Blue and British Blue) are revered because they are
thought to bring good luck.
Of the saints remembered in Hungary on All
Saints Day, two of the more popular were once members of the Arpad house, the
first dynasty of the Hungarian kings which include St. Stephen, the king who
brought Christianity to Hungary, and his son, St. Imre, a prince.
