Hungarian mayor of a charming Danube-bend village bans Halloween festivities
A community pumpkin-carving event planned for October 31 in the main square of Zebegény will not take place after the village’s mayor refused to grant permission for the gathering. According to him, Halloween-related activities should not be given space in the town’s public areas.
Pumpkin-carving event blocked in Zebegény amid Halloween debate
The family-friendly afternoon program — featuring pumpkin carving, autumn decorations, tea and homemade cakes — was originally scheduled for Friday in the village centre. However, the organisers did not receive the necessary permit from the mayor, Ernő Ervin Ferenczy, effectively blocking the event.
The program was organised by two newly elected local representatives, but the mayor said they had failed to coordinate the event with the municipality, the local parish or the church’s representatives. Citing this, he refused to allow the event on the main square.
In a detailed Facebook post, the mayor argued that the issue was not simply about pumpkin carving, but about whether the village should allow “foreign customs” to enter the days surrounding All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day — holidays traditionally marked with quiet remembrance and visits to the cemetery.
“Zebegény has always lived these days in silence, dignity and faith. We visit the cemetery, tend to the graves, light candles and remember our loved ones. We do not want, and must not reshape our village according to foreign customs. This village preserves its traditions — and will continue to do so.”
The mayor emphasised that late October is a solemn, religious period in the village, and that Halloween-style decorations and carved pumpkins would be disrespectful.
“To treat frightening images of death as decoration, carving ever scarier faces lit by candles while people here pray and remember in the cemetery — this does not fit our local community and deeply offends its sensibilities.”
Organisers: “This was never about Halloween”
The organisers reject the accusation that the event was connected to Halloween.
“It was never a Halloween party — the program is called ‘Tökjó Délután.’ We never intended to carve ‘death pumpkins’ or scare anyone,” responded one of the organisers, Réka György, under the mayor’s Facebook post.
They stressed that their plan was simply a small local gathering.
“This was a tiny community event, one among many. Pumpkin carving, tea, cakes, autumn decorations — that’s all.”
They also said the timing was chosen for practical reasons — the school autumn break and a Friday afternoon when families are freer — and that they even shortened the schedule to avoid overlapping with a church event.
However, the mayor said the original plan resembled a larger, public village event, and rebranding it as a quiet family afternoon only happened after it became clear that permission would not be granted. He also argued that holding it specifically on 31 October showed a link to Halloween.
Strong reactions to the mayor’s decision
Many people reacted to the decision on Facebook, with several commenters calling the rejection of the event unnecessary. Among them was Hungarian singer ByeAlex, who did not hold back:
“I don’t give a damn about Halloween and pumpkin carving, but if I weren’t at home with my mom right now – exactly because my dad is no longer with us, and the day after tomorrow would be his birthday, by the way – I’d go to Zebegény to carve pumpkins with the locals, right in front of this mayor’s house!
I’d carve the scariest ghost-zombie pumpkin head for him and hoot outside his gate until morning.”
Under his post, many commenters noted that pumpkin-carving is a perfectly normal community activity in other towns, and argued there is nothing “less Hungarian” about a quiet family pumpkin-carving afternoon than about any other community event. Several people pointed out that visiting cemeteries and making crafts with children do not exclude each other, and said it was unnecessary to “turn it into drama” over a peaceful, family-friendly gathering.
Some users also criticized the mayor’s post for implying that it matters how long someone has lived in the village. According to them, the tone was “exclusionary,” and they felt the organizers were essentially labeled as “outsiders.”
Despite being blocked from using public space, the event will still take place — just not in the village square. The organisers decided to host the pumpkin-carving afternoon in a private garden instead.
Cover photo: depositphotos.com
After all is said and done , Halloween is not a respecting the passed ones kind of day . Im with the mayor on this one and the guy who disrespected the mayor with his crude and disrespectful comeback ,well theres your demon right there disrespecting the Hungarian culture . Perhaps a fall gathering is more respectful where the village bring their harvests to trade . Kind regards to tradition and culture .