Debrecen4U April 9, 2025

Easter in Hungary: A Celebration of Traditions and Good Food

As spring warms the air and flowers bloom, Hungary celebrates Easter with vibrant customs, delightful dishes, and an atmosphere full of joy and renewal.

Let’s discover its colorful traditions and memorable dishes!

Origins of Easter in Hungary

The word Easter comes from Eostre (or Eostrae), the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. The Hungarian word “Húsvét” can be divided into two parts: “hús” meaning meat and “vét” which is a form of the word “to take”.  The word itself refers to the end of the greatest fasting period in the Christian religion, because after 40 days of fasting, Christians are allowed to eat meat for the first time at the beginning of Easter.

Customs and Traditions

On Easter Sunday families usually  gather to celebrate with joy. Among believers, an important tradition is the morning church service where congregations come together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

On Easter Monday, one unique custom is the sprinkling of water or perfume on women and girls, while reciting rhymes, known as “locsolkodás.” In return, girls often offer decorated eggs or treats to the boys, and traditional Hungarian Easter food and drinks. For small children, the mythical Easter bunny brings chocolate eggs as a gift.

The folk tradition, “locsolkodás” has a long tradition, originally, unmarried women were watered in the spirit of fertility myth. In the old days, the women were taken to the well and then doused with a bucket of water to ‘keep them from wilting’, nowadays, fortunately, men prefer to use perfume or cologne. Nowadays it intends to keep all girls and women young and beautiful,  aiming to preserve their youth and beauty. 

Egg painting is a long-standing folk art form that uses a variety of patterns, colors, and techniques. Some even today take egg painting to the next level with intricate designs  and patterns, turning them into stunning pieces of art. These eggs are often used for the “locsolkodás” or simply enjoyed as a decorative centerpiece on the dining table.

Easter Dishes

From early morning on Easter morning, the dining tables are full of delicious food: home-smoked ham, hard-boiled eggs, fresh horseradish and fresh”kalács”,  a sweet braided bread that can be found in different flavours. The popular Easter speciality, horseradish, which is both a spice and a herb, has many health benefits too. The “kalács”brings out the smoky-salty flavour of ham and horseradish, which is why Hungarians always choose this traditional combination.

Hungarian cuisine likes to use a lot of meat, so the traditional Easter menu is naturally also rich in meat. The main dish on the table is always Easter ham with boiled eggs. Eggs are not only paired with ham, but can also be a garnish for salad bowls. Fresh seasonal vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, green onions, radishes and cucumbers are also on the table. 

People and Community

Easter in Hungary isn’t just about the food and traditions; it’s also a time for connection and community. Families, friends, and even neighbors come together to celebrate, share meals, and enjoy the outdoors. It’s also common visiting beautiful countryside locations to revel in nature’s beauty after a long winter.

If you have the chance to celebrate Easter in Hungary, be sure to embrace the traditions and savor the flavours.

In case you would like to try some of the above-mentioned customs, such as making traditional “kalács”, or if you’re interested in painting eggs and making Easter decorations, you might want to look for some DIY videos on the subject, for example this video about traditional Hungarian Easter egg painting or this video about  making “kalács”.

Source: https://diasporascholarship.hu/hu/hir/husveti-szokasok-magyarorszagon/, wikipedia.com | Photo credit:Pixabay