Slovenes in Somogy
Encyclopedia
Slovenians of Somogy were a Slovenian
community living in the Somogy county, Hungary
.
In the 17th and 18th century numerous Slovene
families from Vas County
settled down in Somogy County. According to recent research, there were sixteen Slovene settlements in three country districts (Csurgó
, Nagyatád
, Marcali
). The Slovenes came to Somogy County from what is now known as Prekmurje
in two waves: the first was caused by Ottoman
attacks around 1600 and the second took place in the 18th century, when they escaped persecution of their Protestant faith. In most cases, the Slovenes who immigrated to Somogy gradually assimilated to the local Hungarian
surroundings. Today, only few indications that evoke the historic presence of Slovenes in Somogy County, still exist. Among them, the most evident is the local cuisine.
The other most relevant reminiscence of Slovene presence is the wedding custom in Tarany
, where the figure of the guest caller at weddings, still present in the local traditions of the Slovenes from the Rába
and those from the Prekmurje region in Slovenia
, has been maintained. Both in Tarany
and in the Rába
Region the guest caller is dressed in a robe decorated with knitting. In addition, he carries a stick with a hedgehog fur wrapped round its bottom. The customs at the deathbed, the vigile and funerals are also similar. Furthermore, the descendants of the Slovenes in Somogy do not observe the typical Hungarian Easter Monday custom, in which men and boys douse women and girls with Eau de Cologne
, otherwise typical in the region.
Whereas the Slovenes from the Rába Region still maintain their language and culture, the consciousness of the inhabitants of Tarany about their ancestors is in constant decrease. In the population census in 2001, only 44 people declared themselves as Slovenes in the whole Somogy County.
Slovenians
The Slovenes, Slovene people, Slovenians, or Slovenian people are a South Slavic people primarily associated with Slovenia and the Slovene language.-Population:Most Slovenes today live within the borders of the independent Slovenia...
community living in the Somogy county, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
In the 17th and 18th century numerous Slovene
Slovenians
The Slovenes, Slovene people, Slovenians, or Slovenian people are a South Slavic people primarily associated with Slovenia and the Slovene language.-Population:Most Slovenes today live within the borders of the independent Slovenia...
families from Vas County
Vas (former county)
Vas was the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in western Hungary, eastern Austria and eastern Slovenia . The capital of the county was Szombathely.-Geography:...
settled down in Somogy County. According to recent research, there were sixteen Slovene settlements in three country districts (Csurgó
Csurgó
Csurgó is a town in Somogy county, Hungary. It is located at around .- Sightseeings :The town was important educational center of the Reformed Church in Hungary. Its Reformed Church College was visited by Mihály Csokonai Vitéz, the famous poet, too.The Árpád age church has characteristic...
, Nagyatád
Nagyatád
Nagyatád is a town in Somogy county, Hungary.- External links :* Official web page *...
, Marcali
Marcali
Marcali is a town in Somogy county, Hungary.- External links :* *...
). The Slovenes came to Somogy County from what is now known as Prekmurje
Prekmurje
Prekmurje is a geographically, linguistically, culturally and ethnically defined region settled by Slovenes and lying between the Mur River in Slovenia and the Rába Valley in the most western part of Hungary...
in two waves: the first was caused by Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
attacks around 1600 and the second took place in the 18th century, when they escaped persecution of their Protestant faith. In most cases, the Slovenes who immigrated to Somogy gradually assimilated to the local Hungarian
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
surroundings. Today, only few indications that evoke the historic presence of Slovenes in Somogy County, still exist. Among them, the most evident is the local cuisine.
The other most relevant reminiscence of Slovene presence is the wedding custom in Tarany
Tarany
Tarany is a village in Somogy county, Hungary. It is one of the villages in which some traditions of the Somogy Slovenes have survived.- External links :*...
, where the figure of the guest caller at weddings, still present in the local traditions of the Slovenes from the Rába
Rába
The Rába is a river in southeastern Austria and western Hungary and a right tributary of the Danube. Its source is in Austria, some kilometres east of Bruck an der Mur below Heubodenhöhe Hill. It flows through the Austrian states of Styria and Burgenland, and the Hungarian counties of Vas and...
and those from the Prekmurje region in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, has been maintained. Both in Tarany
Tarany
Tarany is a village in Somogy county, Hungary. It is one of the villages in which some traditions of the Somogy Slovenes have survived.- External links :*...
and in the Rába
Rába
The Rába is a river in southeastern Austria and western Hungary and a right tributary of the Danube. Its source is in Austria, some kilometres east of Bruck an der Mur below Heubodenhöhe Hill. It flows through the Austrian states of Styria and Burgenland, and the Hungarian counties of Vas and...
Region the guest caller is dressed in a robe decorated with knitting. In addition, he carries a stick with a hedgehog fur wrapped round its bottom. The customs at the deathbed, the vigile and funerals are also similar. Furthermore, the descendants of the Slovenes in Somogy do not observe the typical Hungarian Easter Monday custom, in which men and boys douse women and girls with Eau de Cologne
Eau de Cologne
Eau de Cologne or simply Cologne is a toiletry, a perfume in a style that originated from Cologne, Germany. It is nowadays a generic term for scented formulations in typical concentration of 2-5% essential oils. However as of today cologne is a blend of extracts, alcohol, and water...
, otherwise typical in the region.
Whereas the Slovenes from the Rába Region still maintain their language and culture, the consciousness of the inhabitants of Tarany about their ancestors is in constant decrease. In the population census in 2001, only 44 people declared themselves as Slovenes in the whole Somogy County.