Hungary's Busó Festival Chases Away Winter with Centuries-Old Rituals
The Busó Festival in Mohács, Hungary, is one of the country's oldest traditions, stretching back nearly 500 years. Rooted in a legend from the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the event blends history with folklore as locals don terrifying masks to chase away winter storms—and, according to tradition, Ottoman invaders. This year, the six-day celebration once again filled the streets with masked revelers, loud clattering, and a dramatic farewell to the cold season.
The festival centres on the busós, masked figures dressed as forest spirits. Their costumes include hand-carved wooden masks, sheepskin cloaks, straw-padded trousers, and jingling cowbells. The outfits hark back to the Šokci people, who, legend claims, used similar disguises to scare off Ottoman forces during the 16th-century siege.
For six days, the busós roam Mohács, rattling wooden ratchets and shouting well-wishes—though their main aim is to startle onlookers, particularly young women. The noise and chaos symbolise the driving out of winter storms' grip. On the final day, a grand parade leads to the Danube, where a coffin representing winter is set alight or ceremonially drowned in the river.
This year's finale saw teams of busós, guarded by jankels (whip-cracking figures), rowing across the Danube. The spectacle echoed the Šokci's historical tactic of crossing the river by boat to amplify fear among enemies. Meanwhile, in Russia, a similar winter-ending tradition, Maslenitsa, took place from February 16 to 22, featuring blini pancakes and the burning of a straw effigy.
Both festivals share a core purpose: banishing winter storms and welcoming spring. Yet Mohács' Busó Festival stands out for its deep ties to local history and its unbroken, centuries-old customs.
The Busó Festival remains Hungary's longest-running tradition, preserving the Šokci community's defiance against occupation. Each year, the burning of the winter coffin and the drowning of its effigy in the Danube mark not just a seasonal shift but a living connection to the past. The festival's blend of folklore, history, and spectacle continues to draw crowds, ensuring its survival for generations to come.
