Christmas is approaching: Advent traditions and curiosities in Hungary

People usually already spend the Advent season in full festive mode. It is not uncommon in Hungary either. We decorate, we bake cakes and pastries all December long—some of us even start earlier. But what are Hungary’s Advent traditions? You may find them below, along with some curiosities.

When is Advent?

Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (25 December) and lasts until Christmas. Advent dates back to the 4th century, magyarorszagom.hu informs. Pope Gregory VII set the number of Sundays of Advent at four. The first Sunday of Advent always falls between 27 November and 3 December, while the fourth and last Sunday falls between 18 December and 24 December. The first Sunday of Advent also marks the beginning of three seasons: the start of the Christian Church year, the beginning of the Christmas cycle and the beginning of the Advent season.

Traditions

Instead of loud, spectacular celebrations, the Advent season is a time of quiet, intimate expectation. There are many traditions and superstitions associated with Advent in Hungary. For example, if a girl in a marriageable age tears three pieces from a bell rope and ties them in her hair, she is sure to find a suitor in the near future.

Advent in Hungary

The canonical hours is also an Advent tradition. It is when people go to mass every morning from the first Sunday of Advent until Christmas Day. It is also called the Angelic Mass. According to magyarorszagom.hu, it is believed that before the dawn mass, there were witches outside, and barns had to be locked down until the first bell rang. Also during Advent, some people buried money in the hope that it would be cleansed.

Advent wreath

An Advent wreath. Source: Daily News Hungary/Mercédesz Hetzmann

The first Advent wreath was made by a pastor in Hamburg in the 1800s. Nowadays, the Advent wreath is circular, usually made of (or covered by) pine branches and four candles. In Catholic homes, these candles are usually purple, except for the one that symbolises the third Sunday, which is pink. Each Sunday of Advent, a new candle is lit to symbolise the ever-increasing light of God. On the last Sunday, all four candles of the Advent wreath are lit.

Advent calendar

An Advent calendar. Source: Pixabay

The Advent calendar dates from the early 20th century. The first calendar was made by a German mother for her son Gerhard, who couldn’t wait until Christmas Day to unwrap his presents. To give him something to entertain him, her mother took a hard piece of paper and stuck 24 small pieces of chocolate on it, one of which Gerhard could eat every day.

Almost every day of Advent has some special meaning and tradition attached to it. The most famous of these are St. Barbara (4 December), St. Nicholas (6 December), St. Lucy (13 December) and St. Thomas (21 December).

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