This is what Hungarians celebrate on the 1st of May

The 1^st of May marks Labour Day in Hungary, which looks back on a long history. As times changed, the way of celebration also changed. The onetime glorious processions turned into joyful summerings, which come with the tradition of maypole mounting. Let’s take a look at what we celebrate this day 🙂

According to multkor.hu, the 1^st of May was first celebrated in 1890. It was the international celebration of workers for one century, and it is the solidarity day of workers since 1990.

The history of Labour Day goes back to the times of the industrial revolution. Countries all over the world started demanding the reduction of working hours from 10-16 to 8. The first protests started in Great Britain in 1817, then came Australia in 1856. In the second part of the 19^th century, the USA also joined the initiation, but the American happenings imbruted and took toll on dozens of human lives.

This led to a wave of indignation all over the world, which was followed by demonstrations of commemoration. In 1889, the Second International decided that trade unions and other labour organisations should organise a process for the introduction of the eight-hour workday, and to express the solidarity. A 1^st of May mass demonstration was held for the first time in Hungary in 1890.

The 1^st of May became the biggest international labour celebration in the 20^th century, especially in the Soviet Union and the socialist countries, where it was celebrated amid glorious externals. It became an official public holiday and a labour-free day. However, after the fall of communist regimes, the 1^st of May became the solidarity day of workers. Since then, it is mostly celebrated with summering/maying (majális in Hungarian).

Picnic in May painting by Pál Szinyei Merse – Photo: www.mek.oszk.hu

Being the honoured day of spring festivities, the tradition of summering and maypole mounting is closely connected to the 1^st of May. The last day of April and the first day of May is not only important because of summering and graduations, but the traditions of maypole mounting and may-basket giving still play a significant role in the celebrations.

According to sulihalo.hu, this is the time when boys bring poles or baskets to their chosen ladies, thus implying their intention of courting. The maypole and the green branch is the symbol of nature’s revival, it is also the proof of courting intention and a gift of love. Due to the historical connections of the May-Pentecost festivities, besides the magical-practical beliefs connected to the cyclic changes of nature, the tradition also reflects the calendar’s religious momenta.

Hungarian sources write about maypole mounting from the 15^th century, but the tradition of foreign origin is surely older. Still, what exactly is a maypole? It is a whip tree with its branches cut off at the trunk and with a frondous tip or a neat branch. Young men went out at night to the forest and cut it, to then mount it in front of the house of the beloved girl.

In many places, one big maypole was mounted in front of the house of the judge or the priest, or in front of the temple, and smaller trees were mounted in front of the girls’ houses. The maypoles were decorated with ribbons, handkerchiefs, flowers, bottles of wine, gilded eggs etc. before they were dug into the ground or nailed to the gate-post or well-sweep.

As usual, traditions vary by regions, for instance, in Transylvania the boys even carved the tree or carved their name on the tree.

The cutting and delivery of the maypole happened in secret, at night, while its decoration at dawn was mostly the joint and confidential task of the boy squad. The beauty and size of the maypole was a source of discussion everywhere: who courts to whom, who got the prettiest tree, whose tree was disfigured at night by an enemy, etc.

The tipping of maypoles usually went together with celebrations, dances. Dancing around the maypole and climbing up to them was a ceremonial part of the tipping. It was especially hard to climb tall trees without periderm. But it was a real competition, as the one who was able to climb the maypole, won the bottle of drink at the top. Guys liked to trick each other by putting paprika water in the bottle.

The tradition was also known in the cities, and it still is; some people still mount maypoles. However, the visiting of summerings is a more common activity, as it is a fun programme for the whole family. It is basically like a joyful ball, where people can eat and drink delicacies, take part in different activities, while children can enjoy amusement parks, different games and workshops.

Majális in 1985 – Photo: www.fortepan.hu

You may choose from a wide selection of programmes this year. Among others, you can visit the Great Race, the Tabán Summering, the doggy picnic at Hajógyári Island, the summering at the Szentendre open air museum or any other summering in the centre of countryside cities, villages.

Ce: bm

Source: Daily News Hungary