How do Hungarians living in the States celebrate Easter?

Easter is celebrated worldwide, every nation has its own traditions and customs. But what about those who moved abroad? In our article, you can read about the ways Hungarians celebrate Easter in the States. 

777.hu has asked Hungarian families living in the States to tell the readers how they celebrate Easter on the east coast of the USA.

Easter egg hunt and Easter parade

In the city parks, a so-called easter egg hunt takes place. As part of the fun game, you can search for thousands of chocolate eggs. Usually, parents with small children participate in this Easter activity. In New York, on Easter Sunday, the “Easter Parade” is held, which is actually a parade of women’s hats on Fifth Avenue. In 1948, the movie Easter parade was made with Fred Aster, Judy Garland, Ann Miller and Peter Lawford in the main roles, which is shown over and over again every Easter on US TV channels. To the joy of the little ones, shops are packed with chocolate bunnies, eggs and chicks, already weeks before the holidays. Good Friday and Easter Monday are working days, but many people do not work on the former, especially members of the Spanish community, but other Catholics also take a day off.

Many Catholic Hungarian families are fasting

The family of 20-year-old Krisztina Fodor, originally from Transylvania but living in New York City, refrains from eating meat during the entire fast and prepares fish instead. According to a father of three: “Easter is very important to us, also because of folk tradition, but mainly because of religion. We try to raise our children the way our parents raised us. It is one of the most important days in the Catholic calendar, and everyone here knows why, and we give thanks for it.”

For the older generation, spiritual preparation before Easter cannot be forgotten. Uncle Laci Németh-Hajdú, who moved from Hungary to New Brunswick when he was a child, and his wife Irén, for example, regularly watch the Hungarian Great Lent programme on katolikus.hu.

The Holy Week ceremonies are the same in all Hungarian churches in the States

Hungarians living in the US can celebrate Easter the same way as they would in Hungary, the ceremonies are virtually identical. There is a procession on Palm Sunday and a celebration of the Blessed Sacrament on Maundy Thursday. Overseas, religious people also celebrate the Way of the Cross on Good Friday, and attend a Mass of the Resurrection on Holy Saturday, with the consecration of water and fire, readings and processions. Finally, there is a mass on Easter Sunday with food consecration.

However, there are some minor differences in the churches. In New Brunswick, the Passion is sung, but in New York, it is no longer presented at all. On Maundy Thursday in Passaic, the priest used to wash the feet of 12 people, but this custom has discontinued about 40-50 years ago.

• read also: Hungarian April Fools’ Day and other spring traditions