Hollókö Easter festival

The village of Hollóko (pronounced Ho-low-koo, meaning raven stone) is one of the most charming areas in Hungary situated in the Cserhát hills.

The village is currently home to 400 residents who are a Palóc ethnic minority group in Hungary.

Boys walking along the main road in Hollókö.

Boys hold onto a girl as they throw water at her as part of an Easter ritual.

The ritual of splashing is associated with fertility, healing and cleansing rites.

Women in traditional folk costumes as they walk along the main road in Hollókö.

Locals gather to celebrate with wine.

A local man speaks with some of the young women in the village.

Men performing traditional Hungarian folk dancing on an open-air stage.

Girls performing traditional Hungarian folk dancing on an open-air stage.

Historic house in Hollókö. Many of the houses date from the 17th and 18th century and have been preserved throughout the years.

A local woman prepares langos, a traditional Hungarian flat bread in a wood-burning oven.

A collection of dolls in traditional Hungarian clothing.

A local showcases a Hungarian embroidery that was made in the village.

The art of decorating Easter eggs in Hungary was originally a Pagan ritual but was carried over with the acceptance of Christianity. Often the color red is used as it symbolizes the blood of Christ.

A local uses a stylus to apply hot wax onto an Easter egg.

Many eggs also carry the design of Hungarian embroidery that are a part of the traditional Hungarian dress.

Young girls walking along the main road in Hollókö.

A local man sits by an old house in Hollókö.

A local women hangs her laundry outside as people pass by.