Traditional Girls Clothing For Hungarian Ceremony
A Hungarian ceremony that dates back to t he second century AD is still practiced by a handful of Hungarians. Donning traditional girls clothing, they take to the streets for what they call the "watering of the girls."
This is a fertility rite that traces back to the pre-Christian time in Hungarian tribes, where boys throw buckets of water on young girls running past them. Locals in the northeast and central parts of the country dress up in the traditional clothing of the Matyo minority for the ceremony, which is held in towns like Mezokovesd. The Matyo people are united and distinguished from other settlements of the region by their colorful costumes that feature free-hand embroidery and famous folklore art. They continue to live very traditional lives and keep their heritage alive through the practice of ancient ceremonies such as this one.