The politics of Halloween in Hungary

We don’t have Halloween in Hungary, we have All Saints Day! – states the poster. Halloween is not a desirable holiday for conservative Christian Hungary.

We don’t have Halloween in Hungary, we have All Saints Day

We don’t have Halloween in Hungary, we have All Saints Day

In Hungary “Mindenszentek” (All Saints’ Day) and “Halottak Napja” (All Souls’ Day) have always been important Catholic holidays. Quite recently, in 2000, All Saints’ Day even became a National Holiday. Right wing political parties, especially Jobbik, has started a campaign against the growing trend of celebrating Halloween.

According to many conservative Hungarian Christians, Halloween is American and has no place in Hungary. Only All Saints’ Day and All Soul’s Day should be celebrated. Real Hungarians wouldn’t glorify the dead by dressing up in silly scary costumes or carving pumpkins. They dutifully pray to honor the dead Saints and then go and visit the cemeteries where their family members have been laid to rest. The liberal leftist cosmopolitan values of Halloween should be firmly rejected in Hungary! St. Steven Radio even warns Catholics of the “dangers” of Halloween. (Read here in Hungarian.)

Carved pumpkins at Heroes Square, Budapest

Carved pumpkins at Heroes Square, Budapest

Halloween is often portrayed in Budapest as the product of American consumerism. Candy companies bamboozle overweight American children to go from door to door in search of candies and other treats.

It seems that the right-wing campaign against the “American” Halloween is not very successful; the holiday is becoming increasingly popular in Hungary. In Budapest, at Heroes Square, carved and lighted pumpkins are displayed and farmers markets are also starting to sell pumpkins for carving. There are still problems with the spelling of the word Halloween; this sign reads “Halogéntök” which literally means “Halogen Pumpkin.” Oh, well.

"Halogéntök" for carving

“Halogéntök” for carving

When recently young people in the village of Csengele, Csongrád County, tried to organize a Halloween party in the cultural center – the mayor rejected them. He thought the music would be to “noisy” for All Souls’ Day. He added that Halloween is not Hungarian, it is from America and should not be allowed. (Read here.)

The struggle to recognize Halloween in Hungary continues.

György Lázár

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