Szekelys

The agreement about the resettlements of Szekelys from Bukovina to Bácska had been signed 11 may 1941 by the Rumanian and Hungarian parties. The transportation of the population (3279 families) of Andásfalva, Fogadjisten, Hadikfalva, Istensegíts and Józseffalva had been executed with 30 carriages and finished 21 June.

They had just settled down in their new places, when in October 1944 the evacuation command arrived to Bácska. They had left with cart caravans towards the inner part of the country, leaving their houses, stock. The hardest was to get across the river Danube. The Szekely fugitives tried at Baja and Dunaföldvár, but the bridge and the ferry were occupied by German corps, the cart caravan had always missed it.

After a hard winter the problem of the homeless Szekelys seemed to be solved by resettlements to Bonyhád and the vicinity. Homes, emptied because of the relocation of  German families were used by the government committee - responsible for the resettlement - for giving home to the Szekelys. The ethnic group, after having lived in Moldva, Bukovina and Bácska had found its eventual home in Tolna - so in Bátaszék as well.

The Szekely exhibition is to be found in the third premise.

Its most eye-catching items are the made beds, serving as marriage portion, the shelf, storing vessels and tools, used in the kitchen and the wooden-clock.

The Szekelys had prepared the raw material for their handwork as well – they span, wove it, their rich ornamentation tell of extraordinary handicraft. Their so called "painted" textiles are special, because the raw material is wool, painted with natural stain, from which they prepared beautiful colorful textiles besides the common rough colors. From the handworks, textiles, clothings a really rich collection is on display on the exhibition.

The Szekelys were very religious Catholics, icons on the walls of their rooms are always to be found - hang up the way like here, surrounded by woven textiles.

The wooden-clock, made by Székely Albert, handyman from Józseffalva, had been placed in the Szekely room during the closing celebration series of the millennium. (See more detailed under Specialties)

<< previous