Crazy Christmas superstitions Hungarians believe in

Szentendre, Hungary. Photo: MTI

Widely held beliefs in supernatural influences might be irrational, but they are sure as hell entertaining. It is interesting how there are superstitions we laugh at, but we still knock on wood, fear breaking mirrors, and collect lucky charms.

Superstitions were born because people desperately wanted to explain everything unusual or predict what the future holds. Most of these are connected to fertility, matchmaking, health, or wealth. Femina collected a few lesser-known superstitions Hungarians used to or still believe in around Christmas.

It is strictly forbidden to wash or hang out clothes on Christmas (this is something my mother always used to say to us when I was a child). Hungarians used to think that if you do laundry on Christmas, cattle of the family will die, or the wet clothes will bring sickness to the family. Nowadays, people avoid doing laundry because they believe it is bad luck.
Some superstitions are weirder than others. For example, the lady of the house is not supposed to stand up during Christmas dinner. It is believed that if she does, the hens would have fewer eggs next year. Of course, the eggs symbolise material wealth. In other words, if the lady stands up, the family will have less money in the upcoming year. She must remain seated until everybody else is finished. At least this was she can get some rest in the middle of the holiday madness.
After the family had the traditional Christmas dinner together, the crumbs that remain on the table should not be thrown out because it will bring sickness to the family. Instead, the crumbs should be swept and given to the animals of the household. People believed that if the animals eat the leftover crumbs from the Christmas dinner, they would remain healthy in the upcoming year.
People also believe that the Christmas tree should not be brought into the house too soon because it will arouse the ghost of greediness’s attention. In order to get lucky, all you have to do is light one single candle on the evening of Christmas Day, put it in the window and let it burn down completely.
In Transylvania, people also believe that the windows should remain closed during the midnight service so that harmful spirits cannot enter the house.
According to another strange superstition, if young girls grind poppy seeds on Christmas Day, their suitors will soon propose, and they will be married shortly. (Of course, this might have been a cheap trick to make them do all the work around the Christmas dinner)
For single maidens, it is advised to listen to the dogs barking at night, because the direction they hear the barking from will be the direction from where their husbands will appear.