Museum of Ethnography
H-1146, Budapest, Dózsa György út 35.
Phone: +36 1 474 2100
Email: info@neprajz.hu
Linked to the Museum of Ethnography’s temporary exhibition Heavy Fabric. Women – Traditional Costume – Life Stories, this special programme day is both a celebration and a commemoration. It is dedicated to all who seek enriching experiences of beauty, spirit, and knowledge – and a chance for true reflection.
At the heart of the all-day event on 13 September 2025 stands the guest exhibition of the Ulm-based Donauschwäbisches Zentralmuseum, which tells the story of German girls and women along the Danube through their traditional costumes. Behind the dazzlingly colourful garments lie striking personal histories: childhood dreams, bridal hopes, wartime losses, forced labour and displacement. A gleaming myrtle crown conceals the pain of farewell; the folds of a pleated skirt speak of the breaking apart of a community. This exhibition is more than objects and stories: it grips the heart, uplifts, and conveys an authentic hope of resilience and new beginnings.
Throughout the day, the Museum of Ethnography brings the exhibition’s message to life through a rich programme: dance groups, choirs, and ensembles conjure up the living traditions of Swabian culture, while craft workshops revive fading skills such as pacsker shoemaking, Hartau-style furniture painting, and chair weaving. Children can set off on a magical “time travel” through Grandma’s wardrobe, and a costume show reveals the secrets once hidden in skirts and headdresses.
The afternoon will highlight literature: writer and musician László Kollár-Klemencz recalls the music-filled lives and traumas of Swabian communities through the story of The Old Band. The evening will be crowned by the Hungarian German Theatre’s performance of Heavy Burden, a powerful stage work built from personal destinies, guiding the audience through a historical journey – from the loss of home and community to the challenges of resettlement in Germany.
This day is about both beauty and loss – about how a garment, a melody, or a gesture can preserve and carry forward the memory of a community that endured life’s great trials.
Practical Information
Admission to the programme requires a special event ticket (2,500 HUF), which includes entry to all exhibitions as well as participation in the day’s programmes.
No further discounts apply to this ticket.
Children under 3 may attend free of charge.
Tickets can be purchased and collected at the ticket desks by the entrances, where they will also be checked. Please note that on this day the building will not be freely accessible without a ticket. Online ticket purchase is available here.
Exhibitions and shops close at 20:00; programmes end at 19:30.
We reserve the right to alter the programme.
Please note: All programmes and activities will be conducted in Hungarian.
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Im Ofner Bergland – The Diversity of Swabian Culture in Buda Concert and Dance Performance
The Herbstrosen ensemble, the Altdorf Dance Group, the Deutschklub Weindorfer Singkreis, and students of the Hauck János School (Piliscsaba) jointly evoke Swabian dance and singing traditions. Experienced and young performers together create an intergenerational cultural experience, where music, movement, and the power of community meet.
The Tradition of Hartau Furniture Painting Craft Workshop
Participants will paint Hartau motifs on a blue background using seven colours with brushes and dotting tools. Objects to choose from include painted necklaces and fridge magnets (with fish, birds, or tulip motifs). The workshop is led by master artisan Péterné Schneider.
On-site registration required
Spinnstube – Pacsker Shoemaking Craft Demonstration and Workshop
The Bonyhád Spinnstube craft circle recreates the atmosphere of the traditional Swabian spinning room and introduces visitors to the making of the pacsker, a type of traditional Swabian footwear. Participants will learn about the craft of weaving and sole-making; those with prior experience can even try their hand at the techniques.
Swabian Dollhouses from the Hegyhát–Völgység Region Exhibition
Folk artisan Éva Ament presents her creations offering a glimpse into early 20th-century peasant life and the everyday world of German minorities. The dollhouses, made at a 1:10 scale, showcase painted furniture and miniature accessories.
What Is Chair Weaving? Craft Demonstration
What does a chair weaver do? Folk artisan and instructor Tímea Négyes demonstrates the nearly forgotten Baranya-style chair weaving techniques. Visitors can watch the process closely and ask questions, exploring a traditional craft that preserves the heritage of resettled German communities.
From Baroque Skirts to Myrtle Crowns Costume Show
The Lochberg Dance Group presents the folk costumes of German communities from the Buda Hills, with special focus on the attire of Zsámbék. This unique and valuable material includes clothing from children’s wear to bridal outfits, with original pieces also on display. The secrets of myrtle crowns and baroque-style skirts will be revealed. Moderator: ethnographer Szandra Titanilla Fuchs
Concert by the Soroksár Traditional Mixed Choir
Founded in 1978, the choir preserves both Soroksár and Swabian-language folk songs, having earned the highest gold rating. Under the direction of Viktor Pócsik, with accordion accompaniment by Kristóf Hermann, the ensemble performs melodies that keep collective memory alive.
Concert by the Schorokscharer Burschen Brass Band
Formed in 2014 by young musicians from Soroksár, this brass band plays authentic German, Austrian, Czech, and Hungarian German brass music. The ensemble is devoted to preserving the brass traditions of Hungary’s German communities.
Swabian Dance House
For nearly two decades, Kristóf Mándoki and Dorottya Knapp have nurtured Swabian dance traditions. With passion, they represent the community’s dance and music heritage on Hungarian and international stages, in costume shows, and at parades.