The traditional solemn consecration of dishes on the occasion of the Catholic Easter from Mercury Chuk took place on Sunday morning in the center of the municipality and gathered several thousand participants, reports Agerpres.

As every year, people started arriving on the plateau in front of the Administrative Palace long before the service began, carrying baskets of traditional Easter foods such as eggs, breadcrumbs, steak, ham or cookies.

Some of the participants came dressed in traditional Szekele clothing, and many families participated with their children carrying small wicker baskets in which they carried red eggs to preserve and spread the tradition.

Actually, many of those who came to the event 20 years ago accompanied by their parents, now have families and participate with their children.

In recent years, the number of participants has increased significantly

Reed baskets were covered with embroidered napkins, many of which were used only for this ceremony, and some participants also brought flowers to decorate the Easter table.

In recent years, the number of participants has increased significantly, so the area where the event takes place has also expanded around the Administrative Palace, and the traffic on two streets of the city has been partially blocked, the image of people who, in a matter of minutes, filled the plateau in the center of the city and the surrounding spaces, being impressive .

“This is a very old custom in our area. On Easter Sunday, each family sends its representative to church with a basket. Now we are in Merkurya-Chuka, not in front of the church, because a very interesting tradition has been formed here in recent years, when the population of the city or even people who come from afar gather here, on this great land, and participate in the holy liturgy together. In the basket, I brought traditional Easter dishes, kulich, eggs, lamb, sausages, lard, lard and it is consecrated. And after we take them home, there is a traditional breakfast with family and loved ones. (…) In my childhood, it was not usually the elders who came with the basket, but we, the children, were sent. (…) The message of this holiday is always peace in souls and peace, may God bless everyone,” said a man who came from Madarash commune especially for this moment.

For his part, the participant from Merkury-Chuk spoke about the message of this holy day.

“I have wonderful news: Christ is Risen! Besides, that’s why I’m here, for the love of the good Lord, and we thank the Lord Jesus for everything, including traditional home-cooked meals, from Sequime. (…) It would be good for all of us to learn this love that the good God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has for us. If we also had this love and this respect for each other, the world would be much better, much more beautiful and much happier. This is what I wish for all Christians, but not only Christians, all citizens, so that they learn from the good Jesus Christ to embrace each other, to be better, to be more respectful, and the world will become much, much better,” said the man.

Another participant said that he has been living in Hungary for 40 years, but he comes home for the holidays because he lives here, just lives, and he cannot miss this event of consecration of dishes.

An improvised altar in front of the House of Arts in Merkurya-Chuk

As in previous years, the food consecration service was performed by the former bishop of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Alba-Iulia, Tamas Jozef, who, together with several Catholic priests, addressed the faithful from an improvised altar in front of the House of St. Art from Mercury Chuk.

After the divine service, to the sound of Easter carols, the clergy passed between the rows of people and consecrated the dishes.

They addressed the faithful with traditional Easter wishes, and at the end sang Hungarian and Szekler hymns.

In Merkury-Chuk, the tradition of consecrating dishes under the open sky is extremely popular and has become a holiday of the Hungarian community, which is joined by people from neighboring towns.

The custom dates back more than two decades

The custom of consecrating dishes in the city center was introduced more than 20 years ago by Bishop Tamas Jozef, because the surrounding churches were not enough, and over time it became a symbol of the Catholic celebration of Easter.

In 2012, when the renovation of the plateau in front of the administrative palace was in progress, the consecration ceremony took place on the boulevard in the center of the city.

Also in 2020, the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the service was streamed online, while in 2021 it was physically distanced and attended by fewer people.

Consecration of parts under the open sky also took place until 1989 in Merkurya-Chuka, but then people did not gather in the city center, but near Catholic churches.

Older residents of the city recall that the faithful lined up in long lines waiting for the consecration of the dishes, and the police watched over them, but did not intervene.