A quick guide to Hungarian Easter traditions

There are innumerable traditions and symbols related to Easter, which are shared across many nations, like Palm Sunday or the feasting on Easter Monday. At the same time, there are some which are slightly different or non-existent elsewhere – just think about the ‘watering’ of girls in Hungary.

Sokszínűvidék has put together a quiz where you can test your knowledge on Easter traditions, but we have decided to turn this into a guide and explain the differences between international and Hungarian customs.

Let us begin with terminology: Easter in Hungarian is Húsvét which is literally comprised of ‘meat’ and ‘taking’. This compound word literally serves as a reminder that the 40-day lent has ended.

There is a bit of a trick to Palm Sunday since in Hungarian, it is called Virágvasárnap, a compound word again, comprised of virág (flower) and vasárnap (Sunday). This might create some confusion, as it is said that Jesus was welcomed with the symbol of peace, palm branches, into Jerusalem, and not with flower petals. Since there are no palms in Europe, in many places during the celebration, willow or yew branches were used – just think about the other English term for Palm Sunday: Yew Sunday.

At the same time, other days like Ash Wednesday are the same in Hungarian as well; we say Hamvazószerda: hamvazó means ‘to spread ash’ and szerda is Wednesday, as you might have learnt from us already.

So, what about the symbols and things we eat? Hungarians look at the Easter lamb in the same way as all Christians: it is the symbol of the sacrifice that the innocent Jesus made for humanity.