Farsang

Today Bogi went to school (not actually school as she constantly reminds me, but ovada - kindergarten) in fancy dress. This is something which is happening all over town round about now and it is due to Farsang. I've looked up farsang in our Hungarian-English dictionery and it is translated as "carnival", but to my mind carnival is a last-day-before-lent thing, and as far as I know lent isn't starting for a couple of weeks yet. Erika thinks farsang, by contrast, is an entire period of partying that runs from Epiphany (Jan 6th) to the beginning of Lent. It is, I'm told, a big village tradition when everyone parties and wears traditional costume/fancy dress/something unusual, but since we don't live in a village (and Erika didn't grow up in one), she's not really sure what it involves. So I'll have to do some asking around. These days, at least in Csikszereda, Farsang seems to be a time when all the schools have fancy dress days, and also evening fancy dress balls for the parents (which are actually cunningly disguised fundraisers). Having a very young baby means we have an escape clause, but apparently next year (when Bogi really will be at school) we'll have to go.

Anyway, here's a picture of Dr. Bogi this morning. The hat is not a feature of Transylvanian doctors, but part of one of her friend's costumes which by this time had migrated to her head.



Right now according to the little thing on the right it's 2 degrees. That's PLUS two degrees. Spring is here! The first time since it has been over zero for well over a month. Brilliant. I have to go to the balmy sub tropical climes of Bucharest this weekend, where it must be getting close to ten. Time to get out the shorts and t-shirts methinks.