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Busójárás carnival in Mohács

The Hungarian Girl | January 13, 2013 | 1 Comment

The origins of the Busójárás carnival are pagan in which revelers come to celebrate the end of winter.

Exactly seven weeks before Easter, the streets of Mohács come alive with the annual Busójárás Carnival. The pre-Lent festival features locals wearing sheepskin costumes while parading and dancing in the streets to celebrate the end of winter. Busójárás lasts six days, starting on Thursday and ending the day before Ash Wednesday. The carnival ends with a symbolic ritual called ‘The Burial of Farsang” in which a coffin is lit symbolizing the burial of all bad things that have happened throughout the year.

According to legend, the carnival originated from the Šokci (Croats) living in the town. During the 17th century, villagers dressed up in hideous costumes to frighten away occupying Turkish forces and rid them from the land. While this is the most recent legend, the tradition is likelier to have begun much earlier as a spring ritual intended to appease the gods.

Today the carnival is a popular attraction to visitors who come to experience the unique traditions of the town. Similar carnivals are also held in Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia, where many of the revelers at Mohács travel from.

When:

This year’s festivities take place from February 7 to 12, 2013.

How to get there:

The city of Mohács is famous for hosting the annual carnival, Busójárás. Mohács is located next to the Croatian-Hungarian border, 120 km south of Budapest. By car, take M6 (E73) to route 56 near Szekszárd all the way to Mohács. Buses to Mohács are accessible from Budapest Népliget station.

For more information about the Busójárás Carnival in Mohács, you can visit their official website.