Busojaras, Mohacs

Held every February in Mohács, the 'Busójárás' is a spectacular tradition preserving event that became a popular tourist attraction. It is both a celebration of the end of winter and of the occasion during the Turkish occupation when the villagers put on frightening masks to drive away the Turkish.

The origin of 'Busójárás' can be traced back to Turkish times. According to legend locals found refuge in the reedy, marshy area of Mohács Island. One evening, when the hiding Mohács men were sitting around the fire talking, an old Sokci man (member of a southern Slav ethnic group) joined them and foretold the driving away of the Turkish. "Do not despair! Your lives will change. You will return to your houses and beloved ones. Prepare to fight; make weapons of wood, carve frightening masks of willow and be ready for a battle all the time. The sign will come on a stormy night; it will be a golden knight wearing a terrible mask." Next day the preparations started; arms and masks were made. Then, one stormy night, the Turkish occupying Mohács were woken up by a tremendous noise and seeing the devil-faced monsters they fled in terror.

Locals dress up in a frightening costumes complete with scary masks every year. However, it is not only to commemorate the driving away of the Turkish, but also to celebrate the end of winter and the festivities of carnival.

Traditions and the period before the beginning of the Lenten fast are both marked by carnival-type merrymaking. The main attractions of the procession are still the frightening, mask-wearing 'busó' people dressed in sheepskins stuffed with straw. Children go along shaking feather and sawdust filled stockings. A medieval cannon is taken along accompanied by great banging and a huge fire is lit on the main square at dusk where a straw puppet symbolising winter is burnt.