Busójárás

The carnival schedule

The festival unfolds across six days, starting on a Thursday and concluding on the following Tuesday. Festivities gain momentum on Friday with Little Farsang, leading into the central parade on Farsang Sunday. Mohács fills with masquerading groups, musical performances, and dances in public squares. On Shrove Tuesday, known locally as the Burial of Farsang, the town gathers to conclude the carnival season before Ash Wednesday begins. Masked groups from nearby countries, including Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Poland, travel to Mohács to participate alongside local residents.

Legends of the masks

Mohács residents share two accounts explaining the custom. The most popular tale dates back to Ottoman rule, when locals fled into surrounding marshes and forests to hide from soldiers. A mysterious elder visited their campfire, instructing them to carve frightful masks and weapons and wait for a knight on a stormy night. When the rider appeared, the masked townsfolk returned, making a deafening commotion that terrified the garrison into fleeing before daybreak. An older belief simply describes the costumed figures driving away winter itself.

Masks and masquerade

The central figures of the celebration are the Busós, individuals dressed in handcrafted, frightening face coverings. These dramatic wooden masks, paired with traditional carnival dress, form the visual heart of every procession. As these masked figures walk through Mohács, they play folk music, make loud noises, and interact with the assembled crowds. The tradition blends local Šokci heritage with broader regional carnival customs, bringing visiting troupes together in shared public dances and masquerades.

How Busójárás is kept

The gathering begins on a Thursday and continues through Shrove Tuesday. Costumed participants called Busós put on carved wooden masks and walk through Mohács in lively processions. Street parades, masquerading, and traditional dancing accompany folk musicians throughout the town. Groups from neighbouring nations join local Šokci teams during the celebrations. On Friday, the town observes Little Farsang, followed by the largest parade on Sunday. The carnival closes on Tuesday with the ritual burial of the festival season.

When and where

Busójárás takes place annually in February across the final six days of the farsang carnival season. It begins on a Thursday and runs until Shrove Tuesday, ending right before Ash Wednesday.

The festival is held in Mohács, a town in southern Hungary. It is an established tradition of the local Šokci Croatian community, though visiting masked groups from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Poland also attend.

What Busójárás means

To the Šokci people, the custom honours the historical courage of their ancestors who frightened away Ottoman forces during their occupation of the region. An older layer of meaning treats the loud, masked figures as a ritual way to banish the dark winter season and welcome warmer days.

Days Busójárás is marked

Questions people ask about Busójárás

See also

NowruzThe Iranian new year at the March equinox, kept with fire, greenery and picnicsChristmas EveThe evening before Christmas, marked by church services, family meals, and gift preparations across Christian cultures.HanamiA Japanese spring custom of gathering under blooming cherry trees to eat, drink, and celebrate the fleeting beauty of thNavaratriA nine-night Hindu festival honoring the goddess Durga and her nine forms through prayer, fasting, and dance.

Good reading and sources

• Busójárás on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.