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The Spirit of Farsang

In Hungary, the carnival season is called Farsang. The word actually comes from a mix of two old German words from the Austrian and Bavarian regions: Fasten (fasting) and Schank (serving drinks/tap).

Fasten + Schank = Fastenschank

This literally translates to "Lent-drinking"—basically the last chance to grab a drink and party before the 40 days of fasting begin. However, customs in Hungary go much further than just drinking!

Traditions Across the Country

• The Busójárás (South): In Mohács, the joy of the season is rooted in a legend where locals dressed in terrifying masks to scare away the invading Ottoman army. They successfully decoyed them, and today, they use those same masks to scare away Winter.

• The Winter Funeral (Transylvania): In parts of Transylvania, they hold a mock funeral where participants dress in hilarious costumes to "bury" the winter season once and for all.

• The Frogs of Miskolc (Northeast): In Miskolc, you’ll see people dressing like frogs. This stems from a famous legend where a waiter accidentally served a bowl of pork jelly (aspiс, called kocsonya) with a real frog frozen inside it!

Farsang Essentials:

• The "Szalagos Fánk" (Ribboned Donut): These are the stars of the season. They are deep-fried, airy, and served with apricot jam. If you don't have powdered sugar on your shirt by the end of the day, you aren't doing Farsang right.

• The Costumes: It’s not just for kids. In many villages, the "fun" involves elaborate role-reversal plays or satirical weddings where the "bride" is often a bearded man in a white dress.

• The Noise: Everything is loud. Rattles, bells, and shouting are mandatory because, apparently, Winter is a very heavy sleeper.

• Pro-tip: If someone offers you Pálinka during a Farsang parade, they aren't just being friendly—they're giving you "antifreeze" for the winter chill. :)

If you're curious to dive a bit deeper, We’ve rounded up some fun articles and videos for you to check out:

• Chase Away Winter with 'Fánk,' 'Farsang,' and 'Busójárás'
• Farsang celebrations in Hungary

Fánk recipe

Jó étvágyat!

Now that you’ve mastered the art of eating donuts and avoiding scary horned men, it’s time to upgrade your vocabulary so you can sound like a local (even if your mouth is full of lekvár).

Here are the essential Farsang words you need to survive the season: