Busójárás

Busójárás (word by word: Busó walking) is a traditional celebration in Mohács, Hungary of the sokác (Šokci) people marking the end of the winter season. It’s an annual six-day carnival taking place usually in February. It starts on a Thursday, the biggest spectacular takes place on Sunday, and the festival ends on the following Tuesday (Mardi Gras) with the burning of a coffin symbolising winter itself. During the celebration, busós march accross the city in teams, clad in traditional costumes. They are frightening-looking: wearing wooden masks, horns, big woolly cloaks and pants stuffed with straw. The celebration includes folk music and dance performances, fair of crafts, and the tasting local dishes and accompanied by a series of programmes such as exhibitions or competitions. From a minority tradition, Busójárás outgrow itself for nowadays being the general emblem of Mohács. More and more visitors choose to come, mostly on Sunday to watch their march. Their number have reached 70 000 this year. As an example of cultural pluralism, strenghtening the local identity, bringing together neighbouring countrys - it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the UNESCO in 2009.