People from Hungary dress up like horned monsters in February: Here is why 

In February, residents of Mohács, a small town in Hungary, dress up like horned monsters and roam the streets while sipping a homemade alcoholic drink called pálinka and creating as much noise as possible. This is part of their festival Busójárás, which lasts for about a week. The festival is celebrated by an ethnic Croatian community called Šokci. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.  

The name of the festival comes from the word Busós, which indicates fantastically dressed individuals who sport large wool cloaks and wooden masks. This festival was included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Treasures of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2009. This list ensures better protection of important cultural heritages and increases the awareness of their significance among people.  

The origin of Busójárás 
Busójárás is a celebration of life for the Šokci community in Mohács. The origins of this festival can be traced back to the Mohács Battle between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey) in 1526. According to folklore, the locals disguised themselves as terrifying creatures and drove the Turkish troops away. This is where the Busójárás tradition emerged from.  

How is it celebrated?  
Several traditional musical performances, folk dances in costumes and busó parades can be seen during this festival. The custom of this festival requires one's face and identity to be concealed. Some people even regularly switch masks to preserve this secrecy! On the final night of the festival, a straw figure is burned on a bonfire in the middle of the town. The locals join hands and perform the kolo (a traditional folk dance) in a circle around the flames.  

Different Characters in the Busójárás tradition  
Think of the celebration as a film with a male lead (Busó), pretty female characters (Szépbusók), a supporting role (Jankeles) and a villain (winter, in this case).

The Busó 
The main event in this celebration is the appearance of a 'fleet' of several hundred Busós on boats on the Danube River near Hungary. This is followed by the burning of a coffin, which represents winter. The Busó is the central figure in this celebration. He is a vile creature dressed in a wooden mask, an inside-out fur coat, straw-filled pants and embroidered stockings or bocskors (traditional laced sandals). The fur coat is tied with a chain, rope or belt. The Busós always carry a wooden mace, a clapper or a cowbell. Other items such as a wooden pitchfork, a washing paddle, a water hauling stick, a puppet in a wooden tub or a gourd are also hooked to their belt. 

The Szépbusók  
The Szépbusók, often known as 'Beautiful Busós,' are females (or occasionally males) who wear veils over their faces while dressed in traditional Šokci attire. What is their primary responsibility? They have the crucial duty of leading and organizing the Busós, who frequently struggle to see clearly due to their mask. They serve as the masked Busós' eyes, leading them hand in hand or occasionally merely by keeping pace with them.  

The Jankeles  
The Jankeles, who wear rags and carry tattered bags on their heads, are part of the Busós team. Their responsibility is to keep vehicles away. They also keep away kids who tease the Busós by playfully slapping those within reach. Yes, they could slap you if you make fun of their leader! 

Fun Facts  

• Busós occasionally engage in combats to determine their strength and check whether the Busó hiding behind the mask is a youngster or an older man. 
• 'Bao-Bao!' is a typical Busó cry used by these people. 
• The Busó's signature weapon is the flanged mace. It was and still is made of several small wooden parts without using nails.  

• Over the six days of the festival, the Busós are joined by folk musicians, who also participate in the festivities. 
• The Szépbusók's clothing is frequently passed down from generation to generation.