30 pictures + 1 day in Mohács, Hungary = Busójárás 2010!

On February 14, 2010, I got to experience something that not even all Hungarians have experienced. I can only compare it to Mardis Gras in Louisiana in the sense that it seems to only happen in one place in Hungary and that many Americans have never experienced it themselves. It also celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring, with roots involving Carnival (fársang).

Jeff, Emilie and I arrived in Mohács and we were treated to lunch at the local pastor's home. Then they had their oldest daughter take us around the city to see where things would be happening and at least get acclamated to the layout so we weren't lost. Then she found us an amazing spot for the parade and left to be with her friends.
Some sights around town:
a festival isn't complete without a pony!


the bonfire pile... pre-bonfire


masks for sale...


artwork created by the local "artists"...


and the parade begins!


This is the 'winter casket', which you will see again later.


Busos and their 'pretty ladies' (some of them were not so pretty... men dressed as women rarely are!) but a Buso is often accompanied by a lady (wife/girlfriend/random pretty lady), which helps the Buso to behave, but also shows off some of the traditional dress






This is my Buso friend. about 10 seconds after this picture was taken, he attacked me :P



"We celebrate Valentine's Day if the Yankees celebrate Busojaras" - well, we were there celebrating both!



This, if you sound it out, says "BusoRider"... cute!



See the straw man? You'll see him again later!


Note this Buso's bag. Inside you can see a bottle with something red and foamy. That's wine, folks. Inside most of the bags, you could find alcohol of various varieties. Which means, as the day gets later, the Busos start to act out more.


"Vigyazz" is like "Attention!" or "Look out!"


and yes, he's firing a real cannon... in the street... it was awesome and who wouldn't want that job?!


the Buso caught a girl!


a trazy-sized Buso!


My Hungarian husband :P



this is how I watched the launching of the casket: through some guy's video camera! haha! Launching this casket is signifying the death of winter and the birth of spring. cool concept, eh?


if you click on this picture, it will get bigger and you can actually see the casket floating down the river.


I told you you'd see the straw man again...


i wonder if they told Mr Straw Man that today he was going to be burned up...


the beginning of a massive bonfire. However, I didn't get back to see the actual fire - Jeff and Emilie had to catch a bus and then I wandered around the vendors for a while. Such a good day :)