Preparations for Easter are in full swing, with housewives decorating the home and planning festive menus, children learning to craft various decorations during lessons, and boys and men preparing for a special ritual - on Easter Monday they sprinkle water on girls and women. As it is known, water brings everything to life. In ancient times, it was believed that water cleanses and revitalizes, so Hungarians believe that the "sprinkled" ladies will be as beautiful as spring flowers, and of course, cheerful and fruitful.
So, on Monday morning (from around 7 o'clock), men dress in festive attire and visit all the women they know, recite Easter verses, and then sprinkle them with water from a bucket. For this, they receive a red egg as a symbol of the beginning of life, fertility, and spring rebirth. Today, this cheerful ritual can only be seen at specially organized Easter festivities for tourists. However, men have slightly modified this ritual to suit their interests: congratulations have been shortened to four-line verses, and they sprinkle or spray carbonated water from a siphon or the cheapest cologne/perfume (imagine a "subtle", and most importantly, very persistent scent), and instead of eggs, boys are usually given money, and men are given a shot of pálinka (a traditional Hungarian fruit brandy).
May this spring bring health and energy, luck and prosperity, the fulfillment of all wishes, a successful season, and the achievement of goals.
