According to the Hungarian tradition, the lark sounds for the first time on February 19, the day of Zsuzsanna (Susanne). Its singing shows the end of winter and the coming of the long-waited spring, alfahir.hu says.
Zsuzsanna and the sacred tree
The Christian tradition celebrates the day of Zsuzsanna, whose story can be read in the book of Prophet Daniel. The prophet’s name appears not only in the Old Testament documents, but it earlier appeared at the one of the Middle Eastern Bronze Age Hurrite peoples, the Ugarites. There, Daniel is the god of wisdom who protects the widows and the orphans. Probably, one of these stories linked to the horse peoples was included among the books of the Old Testament. The biblical story goes that in Babel, former center of Nimrod, a godly woman called Zsuzsanna was innocently accused by two corrupted judges because she refused to commit adultery with them. First, the court sentenced to death the woman, but then Daniel appeared who could prove the woman’s innocence. The Hungarian folk tradition changed the a little the ancient story. In our country lived that belief that Zsuzsanna, the Csango Susan is the protector of fruit trees. It is quite possible that the old tree cult from the ancient shaman belief had been projected in this story, alfahir.hu says.
Weatherman Sun
There are important folk weather observations linked to Zsuzsanna day. This day, village farmers are anxious to hear the lark’s sound, because it indicates the beginning of spring. It was observed that how the herald of spring flew. If it flew low, then cold weather was coming, but if it got high, it indicated the coming of good weather. According to people of Szentmartonkata, from the region of the river Tapio, if the lark did not sound, his mouth is frozen so cold weather was still continuing. In Topolya, Bacs County, dripping eaves were considered positive sign, because it promised a good crop. In good weather, first outdoor works started around the home farms, carrying the manure into the field and plowing and sowing begun.
based on the article of alfahir.hu
translated by BA
Photo: www.dinpi.hu