Late February, Early March
Carnival’s End
(Farsang Farka)

Farsang is the period from Epiphany (6 January) until midnight on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent (the 46 days leading up to Easter).

Traditionally, this time is characterised by joyful weddings, balls, festivities, and folk celebrations. Unlike many Christian feasts, Farsang is not linked to a significant religious holiday in the liturgical calendar; it is primarily based on rich folk traditions (see: “Fat Thursday” – Torkos csütörtök).

The Carnival festivities have roots predating Christianity. However, during the “moral” 16th and 17th centuries, the celebrations were banned—not for their origin, but because their customs symbolised licentiousness.

The highlight of Farsang is the carnival proper, known in Hungarian as “farsang farka” (“the tail of Carnival”). This refers to the last three days from Carnival Sunday to Shrove Tuesday. These days are marked by great celebrations and are essentially a farewell to winter. Many famous carnivals take place during this time (e.g., the Rio Carnival, Venice Carnival). In Hungary, the most notable event is the Mohács Busójárás.

Among Hungarians:

The name “Farsang” and the earliest customs suggest influences from medieval German civic traditions, with some Italian influences tracing back to the courts of the Anjou dynasty and King Matthias.

Farsang was traditionally a season for courtship and an important “wedding season,” as weddings were forbidden during Lent. This is reflected in the names of specific days during the period (e.g., “First Wedding Sunday” = the first Sunday after Epiphany; “Bridegroom Sunday” = Carnival Sunday, when the young husband would drink at his father-in-law’s expense).

In villages, the young men organised the balls. Girls would send a small bouquet (bokréta) to their chosen suitor via relatives. At the end of Farsang, the young men would publicly declare their intentions by pinning the bouquet to their hat. The essence of the ball season and dancing was engagement.