here is a great legend, widely known and still told, even among the recently Christianized Hungarians, about the origin of their peoples. It proudly dates back to the Invasion of the Arpad dynasty, which still rules the Hungarians, in the 9th Century.
According to the legend, the Magyar chieftans met along the Tisza river at Opusztaszer, and ritually murdered Almus - the father of Arpad. Then they drank his blood and his son was left to lead them as they marched to victory, subjugating the Slavs and Turks which were there before them. Their chieftans (zhupans) and tribal leaders (voivods) led the swift attacks and in one short year settled the Anfold and Transdanubia for their own.
Due to their pride of this warrior-nomadic past, Hungarian peasants today (especially those which still embrace their pagan traditions) despise feudalism, and yearn to evict the foreign powers in Germany and Italy which have subjugated their Princes with soft pillows and wine.
The Seven Tribes - According to Magyar legend, there were seven clans, each led by a brother, who came to conquer the Hungarian Basin in the ancient past.
Each clan took land for its own, and each of these brothers took the form of a different animal to represent his village. It was this which gave them the strength to triumph and their children the courage to continue. These animals were more than just symbolic, as according to this legend, each brother was able to actually become that animal.
These totem animals are regarded as sacred, one to each tribe, and it is the greatest taboo to slay, eat, or hunt these creatures. Further, sacrifices are made to the animal, and more rarely, a sacrifice of the animal itself - if it is white in color.
The village shaman is thought to be the descendant of the original brother who led the clan to this bountiful land. Not in blood, but in spirit, as the tribe's animal sent the shaman to his people. The seven tribes are as follows:
| Ket and Yakut clans - the Eagle | Kazym - Goose |
| Jasz - white horse | Altai - the raven |
| Hajdus - swan | Ostyak clan - the owl |
| Csak - the crow | Buryat tribe - reindeer |
| Orsegi - the weasel |
One truth seems to still be clear however - the Eagle is regarded as the most powerful and influential totem, and no tribes will normally harm the bird. It is said the father of the seven brothers was an eagle shaman.
People often pray to the eagle spirit for offspring when they want to conceive, and only the Eagle shaman may light the ceremonial fires to call a council. The eagle helps the shaman to fly to the sky. It is believed that the eagle is a messenger from God, who may impregnate women - giving birth to a future leader.
This page last modified 1/13/98.
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