Spring waiting puppet burning

The tradition preserves the burial of carnival, winter, the old year, and fasting. This is an ancient joyous celebration of the coming spring. In our folk tradition, the struggle of spring with winter is symbolized by the burning of a straw doll dressed as a witch and throwing it into the water. Winter must be buried with the carnival tail, and evil must be driven away. Every year, Dénes Pál, a retired teacher and author of the book Nagybalog's past and traditions, introduces schoolchildren and kindergarteners, as well as interested parties, to the mysteries of making the doll. ; ; Organized by the Csemadok Nagybalogi Alapszevezet, schoolchildren and kindergarteners set off in the morning from the local elementary school to the Felsőbalog bridge, where the children sing and play. Gabriella Pál explains the folk customs of Carnival, then the small puppet made by Dénes Pál is burned and thrown into the Balog, thus waiting for spring! The puppet bearers and the interested people following them march through the village making a lot of noise. The teachers of the local kindergarten and school give a short local history summary of the tradition. ; ; The puppet burning is especially successful among children, but it is increasingly attracting interested adults as well. The puppet maker is Dénes Pál, who is always happy to visit with kindergarten and school children. ; ; &nbsp, ; ;