Harvest customs and traditions
The harvest is a centuries-old tradition, which is closely related to hard work, in addition to delicious snacks, fine wines, parade, music and entertainment. Thankfulness and gratitude for the bountiful blessing of wine and grapes appear even in the Hungarian National Anthem. They have been engaged in grape growing in the Carpathian basin for centuries, and although harvest parties are still held nowadays, in earlier times this event had a much more serious tradition. Harvest customs change from century to century, one thing is constant: the harvest is one of the most beautiful and important moments in the life of a winery.
During harvest time in the 16th and 17th century legislation was suspended, and even fun and joy were associated with this period. Nowadays’ form of the celebration – known as ball – dated from 18th and 19th centuries. At that time the harvest work was finished with dinner and an evening dance party.
Daytime the work was on: women picked the grapes, men collected the fruit into ’puttony’ according to its tradition, constantly singing happy songs. Meanwhile traditional vintage dishes were already prepared and there was no shortage of fresh grape juice. At the end of the day the host or lord was greeted.
Vintage food was made from mutton or beef. Beef goulash or mutton stew was cooked in a cauldron, and bouillon was served before. In addition to the traditional food of weddings called cabbage a la ’székely’ could not be missing from the evening’s entertainment, and for dessert they baked bell donuts. The party usually lasted until dawn and they consumed ’pálinka’ and of course wine with the meals.
The day ended with a procession connecting with the harvest ball in many places.
