Hungarian Folk Beliefs

Összefoglaló

Since ​the turn of the century, several shorter studies discussing Hungarian folk beliefs have appeared, but no comprehensive monograph on the subject has so far been published in a foreign language. Tekla Dömötör, the author of this pioneering volume, is professor at the University of Budapest, Doctor of Ethnography, Honorary Doctor of the University of Bergen, Norway and has written a wealth of essays and books on folk customs and beliefs. Dr. Dömötör provides a lively, comprehensive picture of Hungarian folk beliefs, incorporating her own vast research and field work as well as the result achieved by others. Therefore, the book includes the historical antecedents of research, the achievements, problems and tasks of this branch of ethnology. In the course of her survey, she deals with the mythical beings of folk beliefs, and devotes separate short chapters to beliefs connected with such mysterious, fascinating figures as the Fair Lady, the returning dead, demons of nature, the devil, the dragon, and other mythical beings. She also analyses beliefs about such folk figures as the Wandering Scholar, the Clever Coachman or the Cunning Shepherd, and describes various magical practices, such as bewitchment through the evil eye, beneficient magical rites, love magic, divination, and the magical power of words. The quotation, drawn mainly from her own fieldwork, add to the liveliness of this fascinating study of Hungarian folk beliefs.
The volume is illustrated by 61 black-and-white and 16 colour photographs of great documentary value.