Friday, August 3, 2012

Ruski kirbaj

Party time, or a period of religious contemplation?

The word kirbaj came into the Rusyn, Croatian and Serbian languages from the German Kirchweih - meaning a religious celebration. Members of the Greek Catholic church in the Rusyn/Serb/Hungarian town of Kucura celebrate kirbaj on the 28th of August each year for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and have done so since the founding of the church in 1765:



However, kirbaj is also much more than a religious celebration. As roving reporters Igor Ruskovski and Tanita Hodak show us, kirbaj is both an open air market, a side show, rides, cotton candy, disco dancing and entertainment from one morning until the next morning. Many things for many people.

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