Busós - Their boo-shows help scare winter away.
The town of Mohács (pronounced Mo - hatch) is rather significant in Hungarian history. Most notably, it was the site of two fateful battles that basically bookend the Turkish occupation of Hungary from 1541 to 1699.
In the First Battle of Mohács in 1526, Turkish forces decisively crushed the Hungarian army led by King Louis II. This effectively marked the end to the nearly two-century long struggle known as the Hungarian-Ottoman wars, which lasted from 1366 to 1526. The loss at Mohács obliterated the Kingdom of Hungary. In the aftermath, the country was partitioned into three parts, with each falling under the control of a different ruling faction: the Ottomans, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Principality of Transylvania. Consequently, the First Battle of Mohács is considered one of the most tragic events in Hungarian history; to the point that it has become the base of the expression "More was lost at Mohács", which is commonly employed in response to misfortune. The implication is simple - regardless of the severity of any disappointment or loss one has experienced, it could never be as big a loss as the one experienced at Mohács.
With Hungary conquered after Mohács, the task of resisting the Ottoman advance fell to the Habsburgs who struggled against the Turks from 1526 to 1791. In 1687, the Habsburgs succeeded in driving the Ottomans out of Hungary at the Second Battle of Mohács. The victory marked the end of more than a century-and-a-half of Turkish rule, but also brought about the beginning of over two centuries of Habsburg rule and influence.
Battles aside, Mohács is also famous for its Busójárás (Walk of the Busós - pronounced boo-shows, which is cool because that is essentially what a busó is). This annual festival traditionally marks the end of winter in Hungary. The celebration stems from the Šokci people living in and around the town. The festivities begin at end of the Carnival season (known as Farsang in Hungary), and draw to a close on Shrove Tuesday. The celebration's most famous attraction are the busós themselves who are essentially bogeymen. The busó tradition stretches back to pre-Christian times and there are two explanations for its origins (taken from Wikipedia):
According to the most popular legend, during the Ottoman times of the territory, people from Mohács fled the town, and started living in the nearby swamps and woods to avoid Ottoman (Turkish) troops. One night, while they were sitting and talking around the fire, an old Šokac man appeared suddenly from nowhere, and said to them: "Don't be afraid, your lives will soon turn to good and you'll return to your homes. Until that time, prepare for the battle, carve various weapons and scary masks for yourselves, and wait for a stormy night when a masked knight will come to you." He disappeared as suddenly as he arrived. The refugees followed his orders, and some days later, on a stormy night, the knight arrived. He ordered them to put on their masks and go back to Mohács, making as much noise as possible. They followed his lead. The Turks were so frightened by the noise, the masks, and the storm in the night, that they thought demons were attacking them, and they ran away from the town before sunrise.
In the older, less popular story, the busós are scaring away not the Turks, but winter itself.
I have only heard the older, less popular story myself. Hence, if current weather conditions are any guide, it appears the busós' boo-shows have succeeded in scaring the pants off winter. I expect an early spring in Hungary this year.
In the First Battle of Mohács in 1526, Turkish forces decisively crushed the Hungarian army led by King Louis II. This effectively marked the end to the nearly two-century long struggle known as the Hungarian-Ottoman wars, which lasted from 1366 to 1526. The loss at Mohács obliterated the Kingdom of Hungary. In the aftermath, the country was partitioned into three parts, with each falling under the control of a different ruling faction: the Ottomans, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Principality of Transylvania. Consequently, the First Battle of Mohács is considered one of the most tragic events in Hungarian history; to the point that it has become the base of the expression "More was lost at Mohács", which is commonly employed in response to misfortune. The implication is simple - regardless of the severity of any disappointment or loss one has experienced, it could never be as big a loss as the one experienced at Mohács.
With Hungary conquered after Mohács, the task of resisting the Ottoman advance fell to the Habsburgs who struggled against the Turks from 1526 to 1791. In 1687, the Habsburgs succeeded in driving the Ottomans out of Hungary at the Second Battle of Mohács. The victory marked the end of more than a century-and-a-half of Turkish rule, but also brought about the beginning of over two centuries of Habsburg rule and influence.
Battles aside, Mohács is also famous for its Busójárás (Walk of the Busós - pronounced boo-shows, which is cool because that is essentially what a busó is). This annual festival traditionally marks the end of winter in Hungary. The celebration stems from the Šokci people living in and around the town. The festivities begin at end of the Carnival season (known as Farsang in Hungary), and draw to a close on Shrove Tuesday. The celebration's most famous attraction are the busós themselves who are essentially bogeymen. The busó tradition stretches back to pre-Christian times and there are two explanations for its origins (taken from Wikipedia):
According to the most popular legend, during the Ottoman times of the territory, people from Mohács fled the town, and started living in the nearby swamps and woods to avoid Ottoman (Turkish) troops. One night, while they were sitting and talking around the fire, an old Šokac man appeared suddenly from nowhere, and said to them: "Don't be afraid, your lives will soon turn to good and you'll return to your homes. Until that time, prepare for the battle, carve various weapons and scary masks for yourselves, and wait for a stormy night when a masked knight will come to you." He disappeared as suddenly as he arrived. The refugees followed his orders, and some days later, on a stormy night, the knight arrived. He ordered them to put on their masks and go back to Mohács, making as much noise as possible. They followed his lead. The Turks were so frightened by the noise, the masks, and the storm in the night, that they thought demons were attacking them, and they ran away from the town before sunrise.
In the older, less popular story, the busós are scaring away not the Turks, but winter itself.
I have only heard the older, less popular story myself. Hence, if current weather conditions are any guide, it appears the busós' boo-shows have succeeded in scaring the pants off winter. I expect an early spring in Hungary this year.
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