1100 maskers are going to celebrate the end of winter on February 27th at Mohács, which means there will be more busós, than ever before. Hegedűs Emese, one of the main organizers of the event told Hungarian News Agency (MTI), that 40 groups and a total number of 950 busós and 150 other maskers are going to entertain the spectators. Furthermore, 240 folk artists, applied artists, craftsmen, and hosts gained admission for selling goods at the time of the festival.
Hegedűs Emese emphasized that through the 6 days of the busó-walking, guests interested in the event are welcomed at 34 locations for 80 engagements from morning to night. The folk festival will include carnival procession, piper meeting, a folk singing contest, folk club, a great variety of folk dance and stage performances, busó-ball, busó-nuptial, mask carving activities, exhibitions of busó-masks carved by celebrated artists, and will close on pancake day at the city forum with coffin burning.
She added that the Vujicsics band will hold a 40-years jubilee concert and Alma együttes will also be among the performers. Moreover, visitors will have a chance of seeing musical instruments, talking to the pipers of the round table, visit a piper concert and watch a film about the instrument, too. These activities will take place at the Busó-yard during the International Piper Meeting of the carnival. The mentioned Busó-yard was opened last year and is welcoming tourists all the time.
The main events will be held on March 2nd, quinquagesima Sunday: the busós are going to cross Danube on boats, parade in the city centre, sail the carnival coffin, initiate new busós, and light a huge torch at the forum of Mohács.
Organizers calculated that about 80 000 people are going to be interested in the busó-walking, which was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009.
Hegedűs Emese noted that for the time of the busó-walking, all accommodations in Mohács were booked back in December. Those who are looking for available rooms currently, are encouraged to try at hosts of nearby settlements or towns.
This widely known Šokci carnival was first mentioned in a note from 1783. According to Šokci people living in Mohács, a legend says that their smart ancestors fleed from the Turkish occupation to the other side of Danube, Mohács Island.
They returned wearing disguises and surprised the superstitious Turks, who became so frightened that they immediately left the city.
The traditional elements of the busó-walking are unchanged: the adults celebrate the end of the grim season and the beginning of spring wearing fuzzy busó-bribes, carved masks, peculiar accessories, rattlers, and cowbells.
Written by Reka Jancskar
based on the mti.hu
Photo: www.infocegled.hu, MTI
Source: http://dailynewshungary.com/
