Actually, I’m talking about one of the Hungarian Easter traditions: the "sprinkling" (“locsolkodás”). Here in Hungary the Easter Monday is the day when men can pour the acquaintance and stranger ladies unpunished. Just to make itclear: Easter is not some kind of summer-waiting party here neither. Generalhabits exist as well: bunny brings chocolate to the children, we also paint eggs and the religious people commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. At leastSunday. Monday, however, the men and boys start off the village to sprinkle all women who let them, with water or perfume depending on the temperament. This custom is not a new invention of course: was inspired by the fertility cult, because according to the tradition, the “sprinkling” prevents the girls get wilt, whatever that means. Seriously, I can’t imagine how anyone could wither, but doesn’t worth to take the risk. After all: tradition is tradition.

www.friss.hu

The old people do not call this day “throw into water”-Monday by chance: even fifty years ago it was common to drop the girls into drinking troughs. Despite the fact that due to the holiday they woretheirmost beautiful, finestclothes. In fact, “sprinkling” with buckets of water hold up to these days. The young village boys roam the villages in teams and sprinkle the girls thoroughly. And the girls in gratitude for not remained dry gave them painted Easter eggs. Yes, you read it correctly and the picture is appropriate too. Which is quiteremarkable: girls do not throw these eggs, rather hand them over with a cute smile. Although, as the picture supports, the revenge would have been justified. Another evil version of this is when dads awaken their daughters by pouring a glass of cold water to their neck or face.

photo: www.civilprojekt.net

with some sort of perfume and by recite an Easter poem. As a reward, beside (or instead) the painted eggs they get chocolate, alcohol or occasionally money. And if you would like to try the sprinkling (and you’re a man), here comes whatto do. First:grabsomescentedwater (make sure it isn’t stinking or too powerful), then find out a “sprinklerpoem”, like:

I have a little perfume, Sprinkle at your hair,

If you are a little lucky, Gonna like the smell.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be Shakespeare; something like this will be perfect. At the chosen girl’s place, your only task is to ask whether you can sprinkle or not, say the poem, sprinkle and collect the gifts and the gratitude. Because no matter how much we complain about it, in reality we love being sprinkled.Because it means that the person cares about us enough to chase away all the bad influences with a little scent.