The scariest Hungarian tradition continues this year

Busójárás Carnival Season Farsang Télűzés Winter

Photo: Alpár Kató - Daily News Hungary

Busójárás in Mohács is one of the most interesting events in Hungary. Since 2012, the event has been declared a Hungarikum as well.

The event is a Hungarian tradition that represents the death of winter and the arrival of spring. The busó are easily recognisable. They wear fur, masks made of wood, and have items in their hands such as clapper or mace.

Another type of figure is the jankele, which keeps away the people and especially the children from the busó. They wear rags and a bag that was originally filled with ash or flour. Other people in various outfits wear maskara, writes Travelo.

In 2009, UNESCO added the Busójárás in Mohács to the representative list of intangible cultural heritage of mankind. This year, there will be 64 busó groups, 2,000 people in maskara, and 140 programmes.

One of the really interesting events will be on February 27 called Farsangvasárnap. On this day, the busó groups will cross the Danube river on boats, starting the event. The tradition will start at Kóló Square and continue on the shore of the river and the neighbouring streets.

At dawn, a bonfire will be lit, and the busó group will dance around it. Participants will also see a coffin being burned at some point, which represents the burial of winter.

The event will take place until March 1.

The event will be interesting to the participants, as there will be many programmes to choose from. Arts and crafts fare, folk bands and folk dance groups, food tasting and musical performances will await visitors. The programmes related to getting to know the busó groups will be interesting as well.

The most traditional elements of the event, such as seeing the masquerade or seeing the coffin put on water or being burned, are interesting traditions worth seeing. Also, the general atmosphere of the event is truly unique. For the detailed programme in Hungarian, click here.