Farsang, which translates to “carnival” in Hungarian, is a time of festivities lasting from after Christmas to February, featuring some truly distinctive Hungarian traditions. The Busó-walking is an annual celebration in a small town in Hungary, Mohács, which keeps an old folk tradition alive.

Farsang

Farsang was historically important in Hungarian culture, combining more traditional Christian aspects with elements of older festivities about driving away winter demons over time. As a result, a variety of celebrations begin immediately after the New Year.

The more than a month-long celebration was historically marked by a variety of opulent feasts and excessive drinking, owing in large part to the farmers of the region having a little more free time when the land was frozen solid. Even if it is no longer as popular as it once was, there are still plenty of events to attend. The day of Epiphany, or January 6, when Christmas trees are traditionally abandoned, represents the start of everything.

Farsang, which takes place from January 6 through February, is difficult to pinpoint as a single event. As a result, several gatherings are conducted throughout the season to get people in the mood for spring. Even though things are more organised and in order these days, the largest towns and cities still hold their own Farsang festivals. Schools and kindergartens also traditionally celebrate Farsang, letting kids dress up in costumes and play traditional games. Throughout the month in Budapest, there are a plethora of events taking place at the city’s most popular clubs and pubs. Costume themes are widely used, and might span from simple animal costumes to costumes of popular television shows.

The Busójárás, a series of festivities done in Mohács, a town near the Croatian border, may be the most peculiar Farsang ritual. They’re supposed to scare away the winter spirits. It is so distinctive that UNESCO has designated it as an intangible cultural heritage.

The Busó-walking

Busójárás (Busó-walking) is a tradition of Mohács’ native South Slavic, Šokci community. It is a well-known and widely practised folk ritual for warding off winter. The tradition’s beginnings can be traced back to the pursuit of Turkish armies. The locals were said to hide in the neighbouring wetlands, wearing masks and making loud noises to frighten away the superstitious Turkish soldiers. In actuality, the Šokci people most likely took this custom with them when they came from the Balkans to live here, and it only evolved into its current form here.

The core of Busójárás, according to Šokci traditions, is “poklade,” which means metamorphosis. They take this extremely seriously, spending the holiday in a different state of awareness behind their masks, more in tune with their instincts and free of time and space constraints. Many things are permitted at this time that would not be acceptable in normal life. True Busó tradition requires that one’s face and identity be disguised during the holiday, and some people even replace masks frequently to keep their identity hidden.

The Busó is the major figure in this holiday: he is a monster wearing a wooden mask, an inside-out fur coat, straw-stuffed trousers, and occasionally embroidered stockings called bocskors (traditional laced sandals). A chain or rope, or occasionally a belt, secures the fur coat. The Busó is also always accompanied by a cowbell, clapper, or wooden mace. Other items such as a wooden pitchfork, a washing paddle, a water carrying pole, a bull pizzle or gourds hooked to their belt are often utilised. They frequently circulate the town on carts or adorned small tractors. It has become a tradition for groups of Busós to compete to see who can come up with the funniest and most striking new ideas for the Busó’s appearance while still following the established traditions.

Originally, parties of Busós would walk from house to house, receiving food and drink from the residents in exchange for their good fortune wishes and winter-chasing rites. Their march has evolved into a town-wide festival. Nowadays, activities are centred on the main square of Mohács, with a lot of audio-visual effects: cannons are fired, bonfires are lit, and a variety of loud noises are made.

Cape Town language and food

South Africa has eleven official languages, although the most frequent in and around Cape Town is English—the language of business and media—followed by Afrikaans and Xhosa on the streets. The Mother City, as it is often referred to, Cape Town has a variety of fun slang expressions that are a must to learn for first-time travellers. 

Many slang expressions – and without a doubt, the most important ones to know – refer to food in one way or another. “Brekkie” for example, is a word short for breakfast. The word comes from English, but it is widely used in Australia, as well as in South Africa. It simply refers to the breakfast everyone eats in the morning. 

Cape Town is rightly famous for its great “brekkie” and coffee places. Truth Coffee is one of the most trendy cafés in Cape Town, serving the award-winning best coffee beans in the world. The trendy, punk-like vibe of the place is a must to visit for all coffee enthusiasts! Bootlegger Coffee is a small chain across the city, with a fun, cool environment and great food and coffee! 

Another expression, “braai” is similar to a barbeque, except it is always cooked over an open fire. South Africa is extremely proud of their braais, which are often fun gatherings for friends and family. Every braai must have a “braai master”, a person responsible for preparing, seasoning and cooking the meat. Cape Town is packed with wine farms and wine estates, so drinking good quality wine is also a must on every braai. 

Language point: 

Some more Cape Town slang includes: 

Lekker – Good

Howzit? – How is it going? 

Yoh! – Wow!

What to do in Cape Town

There is never a shortage of things to do in Cape Town. Plan to fill your agenda with historical sights, natural wonders, cafes, hikes, beaches and various cuisines. 

Take a nice drive along the gorgeous coastal route to Cape Point. The route will take you through breathtaking coastal scenery, including Muizenberg’s colourful beach huts, Kalk Bay, Simon’s Town, Boulders Beach (which surprisingly is home to penguins), Sentinel Peak, and the winding Chapman’s Peak Road. Cape Point is located in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and features stunning ocean vistas as well as a quaint historical lighthouse.

One of the best things to do in Cape Town is trek up Lion’s Head. The hike up the mountain can be difficult, but the views from the top are well worth it. Some of the nicest views of the city and its surroundings may be seen from Lion’s Head. Even if you don’t make it to the summit, the views along the route are spectacular. It is one of Cape Town’s most popular hiking trails. The high rise from the start makes this a moderate course. The difficulty level is determined by the route you take, and there are many options. It’s not too difficult to stroll around the mountain, but when you reach the top, some parts of the trail are fairly difficult. The last kilometre is the most difficult, with rock climbing, metal ladders, and chains, but as many do the hike every day, it is perfectly doable for anyone. 

For those not wanting to hike, the cable car up Table Mountain can be a perfect alternative, to take in the magnificent views of the city, from its highest point. Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak are beautiful spots in Cape Town to see the sunset.

There are also many impressive beaches in Cape Town. Clifton 2nd, a beach located on the western coast, is the most well-known. Long Beach in Noordhoek, Bakhoven Beach, and Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town (the penguins’ beach) are also must-sees.

Nature, markets and safaris

The Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden has a significant collection of African plants and offers trekkers routes as well as stone sculptures erected in the gardens for artists. On Sundays during the summer, live concerts are frequently presented on the lawn. The garden is one of nine National Botanical Gardens in South Africa, comprising five of the country’s six biomes and managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. 

Markets are undoubtedly the best ways to explore Cape Town’s local cuisine and to support local businesses. Mojo Market, one of the most popular markets in the area is open seven days a week and offers a wide variety of food, snacks, clothing, souvenirs and more! Bay Harbour Market is a less-touristy, more locally visited market, perfect to find gifts and souvenirs on a budget. 

For those wanting more adventures, take a trip a few hours outside of town to see the Big 5 on a true African game drive. Gondwana Game Reserve is dedicated to conservation and offers a truly beautiful property with great and skilled personnel.