New Year’s Day in Hungary – Újév Magyarországon

One thing is for sure: there is no lack of superstitions in Hungary when it’s time to see the old year out and usher in the new.

On New Year’s Eve it’s customary to make a lot of noise to scare off the demons and the evil spirits. Traditionally, a bullwhip with a cracker was used to make a loud noise, but nowadays horns and other noisemakers are just as effective.

If you want to be lucky throughout the year avoid arguments, don’t do the laundry and don’t sew on New Year’s Day. Also, avoid seeing a doctor on New Year’s Day and you will stay healthy all year.

Don’t remove anything from the house on New Year’s Day because according to a superstition you will be penniless all year. If your first visitor is a man on New Year’s Day, you will be lucky, if it’s a woman you will be unlucky in the upcoming year.

You’ll be healthy all year if you wash your face in cold water early in the morning on New Year’s Day. Adding a red apple to the water will increase your chances of staying healthy.

Don’t leave everything to fate, increase your odds of having a great new year with a lucky meal. A menu of lucky meals in Hungary consists of roasted pork, cold pork aspic (jelly), cabbage rolls (filled with ground pork) and lentil soup.

Pigs symbolize progress as they root themselves in the ground before pushing forward. Traditionally, in Hungary eating pork on New Year’s Day brings you luck. Lentils or beans symbolize wealth so lentil soup is another must have dish on New Year’s Day. After a night of partying on New Year’s Eve, korhely leves, a soup with cabbage, sausage and sour cream, is a good cure for hangovers.

In addition to the lucky dishes listed above, Hungarians avoid eating chicken and fish on New Year’s Day, as chickens can ‘scratch’ away your luck and fish can swim away with your luck.

Can you answer the questions based on the text?

1. Why is it customary to make a lot of noise on New Year’s Eve?

2. What shouldn’t you do on New Year’s Day if you want to be lucky throughout the year?

3. If your first visitor is a man on New Year’s Day, you will be …… .

4. What are the lucky meals to eat?

5. What do pigs symbolize?

6. What’s korhely leves good for?

Key

1. To scare off demons and evil spirits.

2. You shouldn’t argue, do the laundry, sew, see the doctor, remove anything from the house, eat chicken and fish.

3. lucky

4. Roasted pork, cold pork aspic (jelly), cabbage rolls (filled with ground pork) and lentil soup.

5. progress

6. hangovers