Monday, March 24, 2008

Easter Monday

Along with being my birthday, today is one of the greatest days of the year: Husveti Hetfo (Easter Monday)! In Hungary, a tradition known as "Easter Sprinkling" (husveti locsokoldas) is carried out on this day:

"A couple of decades ago men poured water on women in rural areas and women
changed their clothes after each sprinkling. Boys often dragged girls to the
well and poured water on them with a pail. Sometimes they washed them in
creek. The possible reason for this very old tradition is that people believed
in the cleaning, healing and fertility effect of water. Easter is a 2-day
holiday in Hungary. On Monday boys and men visit all of their women relatives,
friends, neighbors, often even if they are not close friends. Boys in small
groups, fathers with their sons, or single men leave early in the morning and
their "tours" last all day long. They greet girls and women with poems (mostly
with a funny poem about "Eastern sprinkling") and sprinkle them with cologne.
Women must be well-prepared, they treat men with dessert and beverages - and
with hand-painted eggs. Women usually prepare in the previous days by leaning up
the house thoroughly, decorating, cooking and painting a couple dozen eggs.There
is a competition among young girls - who gets the most
"sprinklers" wins."

from http://www.hungarotips.com/customs/locsol.html

I love the Easter traditions in Hungary and it always makes me home sick this time of year when I can't talk anybody into writing me a poem or spritzing me with cologne. Yes, some boys in Hungary (including our elders) were obnoxious throwing water or even bubble bath soap on us, but if you've had an old gentleman in a suit kindly ask your permission and give you a spray of cologne on your head...you'd know how sweet the tradition is. So, Happy Easter Monday! Hope you get watered!

12 comments:

Beth said...

Happy Birthday, Megan! I love you!

Angie Lewis said...

Happy Birthday! I'm working on your poem right as we speak.... Unfortunately you're a bit far away for any sprinkling (although I'm not a boy, so I guess I wouldn't be doing it anyway).

The Tuck Family said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Twenty-one has never looked so good..... ;)

Denae said...

Happy Birthday Megs!

Vhari said...

Happy Birthday Megs! I hope Dan will at least give you a sprinkling when you get home.I also hope that you have a really good day and that all of your wishes come true!

Tiffany said...

Happy B-day!!! Miss you!!

Emily Rasmussen said...

Happy Happy Birthday to you!

BTW, Thailand has a holiday that is a three day water fight. The whole country shuts down and everyone runs around crazy throwing water at each other.
Why can't American get into water throwing and sprinkling? :O)

Ginna said...

Happy birthday sweet friend. I hope it was a good one.

And who woulda thunk it about that easter sprinkling stuff! That's great!

Becca said...

Happy Birthday!!! You are one of my favorite people ever... You are amazing and I hope you had an amazing day!! It was fun talking to you today! Love you tons!!

Sarah said...

Happy Happy Birthday. You beat me to earth by one day! I hope you had a wonderful one.

The Willeyes said...

Megan-
Happy Birthday, and may this be the best year of your life yet! So many great things ahead. It's only just begun. Mel:)

K said...

Maybe that's something we all should do - run around baptizing each other every so often. Like we're running around in a rainshower of mutual forgiveness and blessing. Kinda cool. But I like your last line best.

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