Epiphany - Holy Three Kings - Croatian Tradition of Water Baptism in Hungary

Pučka tradicija Hrvata u Mađarskoj očuvala je bogatu arhaičnu starinu i u vezi s blagdanom Bogojavljenja, odnosno Tri kralja. Možda se s pravom može smatrati »Hrvatskom u malom«; naime, u razne krajeve Ugarske hrvatsko stanovništvo dolazi u raznim razdobljima, a u nekima obitavaju još od prije dolaska Mađara, dakako zbog prodora osmanske vojske, bježeći ispred osvajača, odnosno i poslije, nakon njihova protjerivanja, napučit će mahom Zadunavlje te područja između Dunava i Tise. U uratku se daje uvid u taj blagdan, koji se i danas slavi te obiluje u molitvama hrvatskog puka u arhipelagu, u raznim običajima, primjerice posvećenju vode u crkvi, kao i njezinoj uporabi toga dana, odnosno tijekom cijele godine. No, za taj dan vezuju se i dramske igre našeg puka na hrvatskom sjeveru - želimo podsjetiti da je na rubu dane zemlje, u našem slučaju hrvatskih zemalja, uvijek bolje uščuvana arhaičnost običaja, dok se drugdje gubi, pada u zaborav i s time nestaje. U uratku se navodi i opjevani događaj, poznat iz Novog zavjeta, kada Isus u svatovima krsti vodu. Međutim, radi postizanja zdravlja toga dana u jutarnjim satima vrši se obredno umivanje: stane se na sjekiru, a u vodu se stave crvena jabuka, kovanica, šipak. Taj običaj pomalo nestaje (ili je već nestao?), dok ga je u podravskom Lukovišću, kao dijete, održavao i sam autor ovih redaka. Osim toga, bio je poznat i u šokačkih Hrvata u Baranji te bunjevačkih Hrvata u Bačkoj, dok se u drugim hrvatskim naseljima u Mađarskoj izvodio na druge dane, poglavito uoči božićnih blagdana. Budući da je riječ o blagdanu, razumije se samo po sebi da je ženama i djevojkama bilo zabranjeno presti. Hrvati diljem Mađarske toga dana svetom vodom blagoslove svoju kuću, gospodarske objekte, njive, bunar, vinograd itd., radi zaštite svoje obitelji, ali i stoke od bolesti, kuge ili da ne uđe nečista sila u kuću, da se ona odagna. Naime, u puku se smatralo »Bježi, ko vrag od svete vode!«, stoga su profilaktične radnje i izvođene. Navodimo i pučke molitvice Hrvata, kao i druge svete molitve koje istraživačima mogu poslužiti pri otkrivanju osobenosti hrvatske crkvene himnodije koja se nazire i u Hrvata u Mađarskoj. Molitvice podravskih Hrvata opisuju tri kralja kao vodiče duša jer umrle duše oni vode na drugi svijet. Njima su se vjernici obraćali u svojim rado kazivanim molitvama za dobru smrt. Na Tri kralja održava se i strogi post, što znači da taj dan ima posmrtni karakter. Izvode se i obredne igre, takozvani zvjezdari, ali i druge poznate i specifične za Gradišće. Valja još reći da djeca u Podravini, napunivši sedmu godinu, poste cio dan, sve do pojave prve zvijezde na nebu, kako bi lanac vezan za aždaju ponovno ojačao.
Folk tradition of Croats in Hungary has kept its rich archaic tradition in celebration of Christian holidays, such as Epiphany, or Holy Three Kings. This religious celebration in Hungary is rightfully called »Little Croatia«. Namely, throughout different time periods, Hungary was populated by native Croat; in some areas they had been settled even before the Hungarians came along. Naturally, due to invasion of the Ottoman armies, native Croats were fleeing from the invaders and later, after they were pushed back, Croats settled down the Danube Valley (Zadunavlje) and areas between the rivers Danube and Tisa. The paper provides insight into this religious holiday, still alive and vivid in small prayers of the Croats in archipelago, in different customs, for example, sanctification of water in a church, as well as use of holy water on that day, or, all year round. However, this day is linked to folk play in Croatia’s north, - we want to remind that on the outer rims of certain lands, in this case- Croatian lands- archaic customs are better preserved, while elsewhere it’s lost, forgotten, thus lost forever. The paper provides the poetically recorded event from the New Testament, when Jesus sanctifies water for a wedding ceremony. On that holiday people, for reasons of good health, make a ritual face washing: a person will step on an axe, put a red apple, a coin, or a rose hip into the water. This custom is gradually disappearing. Or, is it already disappeared? In his childhood days, the author himself followed that custom in Podravsko Lukovišće as a child. The custom was followed by Sokácok(Šokački) Croats in Baranja region, and Bunyevácok (Bunjevački) Croats in Bačka region, while other Croatian-populated settlements in Hungary celebrated this on a different day, mainly around Christmas time. Since it’s a traditional holiday, it’s self-explaining that women and girls were forbidden to spin and weave on that holy day. Throughout Hungary, Croats on that day bless their homes and farmhouses, plow land and water-wells, vineyard etc. with holy water, sprinkling it over for protection for their family members or cattle from illness or disease, from plague or unholy spirits, as folk has always had a saying: »Running like devil from holy water!«, hence the prophylactic measures with holy water. The paper provides folk little prayers of Croats, as well as other holy prayers, which can be useful for research of Croatian Christian hymnody, also seen with Croats, settled in Hungary. In little prayers of Podravina’s Croats, the Holy Three Kings are described as soul guides, namely, they lead and guide souls of the deceased into Heaven. It was to them the believers directed their little prayers for merciful death. On the Holy Three Kings a strict fasting is upheld too, which give this holiday another meaning- a posthumous character. On that day, ceremonial play of so-called »zvjezdari« (starmen), as well as others, well-known and very specific for Gradišće. We should add another custom related to this holiday: children in Podravina, on their seventh birthday, fast for the whole day, until the first star appears in the sky, that the chains that keep devil away are re-strengthened.