Christmas Traditions in Hungary
Hungarian folk traditions surrounding the Christmas season are remembered, if not necessarily practiced today.
Christmas in Hungary is celebrated differently today from when Hungarian culture was more centered on village life.
Hungarian Christmas traditions are a mixture of Christian traditions, pagan traditions, Eastern European traditions, and Western European traditions. Hungarians traditionally celebrate Advent before Christmas with wreaths and with the Advent calendar. These are both indicative of the German influence on Christmas traditions in Hungary. Folk traditions have their roots in village customs and may or may not be practiced today.
Mikolas and Krampusz
Similar to Romania and Moldova however, December 6 has long been celebrated as St. Mikolas Day – or the Day of St. Nicholas. Children set their shoes or boots out overnight instead of hanging stockings – and as a result, they receive edible treats and small gifts. Naughty children may be warned of Krampusz, a mean-spirited goblin who is said to whip children who disobey their parents.
St. Luca’s Day
December 13 is celebrated as St. Luca’s day. Historically, in villages across Hungary, men would begin to carve a stool from wood on this day with the intent to finish just before Christmas. If stood upon during the Christmas church service, the carvers of the stools would be able to identify which members of the congregation were witches. However, detection of a witch meant that the witch would immediately attempt to catch the villager who spotted her. The villager, running from the witch, was supposed to spread grain or seeds to prevent the witch from catching him. For this reason, makers of the Luca stool would carry a bag of millet or poppy seeds with them to church on this day.
Carolers
Also similar to Romanian Christmas customs, a group of village boys would dress up in costume and sing carols throughout the village. This, like the carving of the Luca stool, is rarely practiced, especially in metropolitan areas. Today, nativity plays are performed instead.
After Christmas
Christmas in Hungary has been traditionally celebrated until the 27th of December. Folk customs are remembered, if not practiced as they were originally intended, on this day. Well-wishers spread hopes of good fortune to village families. Wine blessed on this day was said to have special curative powers
Christmas in Hungary has always been celebrated with strong traditions. Today, they may vary from the folk customs of small villages, but Hungary still feels nostalgia for these Christmas traditions of yesteryear.
