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Jászberény's Csángó FestivalA Celebration of Minority Cultures Hosted by the Jász People, Hungar
The pleasant town of Jászberény hosts a festival of Minority cultures each August. As well as costume, music and dance, there are also exhibitions and a dance house.
Every August, the town of Jászberény on the Zagyva River, hosts the Csángó festival, a festival celebrating minority cultures. The festival lasts for a week, and includes parades, folk dancing and music, a handicrafts fair, and also an international dance house and musicians camp, where visitors from all over the world can learn some of the dances and music of these people. History of the Jasz PeopleThe Jász people themselves originated, many centuries ago, from Iran, and settled in the area they now inhabit in the 13thC. They received autonomy from the Hungarians on the understanding that during any battles, they would support the Hungarians, and not the outsiders. Jászberény now is the centre of the culture and life of these people. Csango PeopleThe Csángós are nowadays Moldovan Hungarians, living outside the present Hungarian borders. They are renowned for their folklore, which dates back many centuries and is regarded as being "archaic". It is very rich, especially the music, the costumes and the dances. Individual CharacteristicsThere are many sub groups of the Csángó people, each with its own individual traits and characteristics. This makes the festival an extremely interesting gathering of peoples and customs. Festival GoalsThe festival’s goal is to preserve this cultural heritage and to also introduce it to as many people as possible. In 1990 the organisers of the event travelled to Moldova to arouse interest in the event, and the first festival was held in 1991. MilestonesMilestones of the festival are many. In 1995 the festival was listed on the European programme. In 1999 Jászberény received the European Council’s "Flag of respect" for its connection with its sister cities. In 2004 it became one of 90 cities to take part in the Folklorida programmes, and in 2006 it was ranked among Hungary’s leading folklore festivals. Preserving the CultureThe festival not only preserves the culture and customs of the Csángó peoples, but it also presents the music, dance and costume of other minority Hungarian groups. Visitors from other countries such as Turkey, Cyprus, Italy and Greece are also invited. Festival ProgrammeThe days of the festival are packed with the parades, folk dancing of various countries, music, and a handicrafts market on Margaret Island. And for those who really want to get into the spirit, there's the International Dance House and Musician Camp. You can learn some folk dances, and attend lectures that teach the history of Csángó folk music and dance. If you can't stay for the whole week of the camp, day tickets are also available. Other EventsThere are also many other events, such as concerts, dances, an international conference of honey producers, and art and crafts displays such as patchwork. As well as these attractions, there are the usual town "must see", such as the museum with Lehel’s Horn, dating from the 8th century, churches and statues. Other AttractionsJászberény also boasts thermal baths, botanical gardens, and a zoo on the outskirts of the town.
The copyright of the article Jászberény's Csángó Festival in Hungary Travel is owned by Christiane Birkett. Permission to republish Jászberény's Csángó Festival in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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