After the sign of the 'devil leader' the whole crowd moves, upon hearing the rattle and the cattle bells ringing, the crowds feet start stamping and cannon shots accompany the crowd's march, says tradition.

And aparently, "there is always time for tricks to stroke women' according to the legend, which continues:

"Arriving to Széchenyi Square a deputation walks up to the town hall. The mayor dines them with bread, wine and „busópálinka”.

Arriving back from the Danube starts the free carnival. The busós dance kóló with the girls and the women. The „jánkele” chase them; screaming and laughing is heard all day.

Music, rattling, the sound of the busó horn, and the cannon shots are heard. Busós come on horses and on carts. Poor horses can just only pull them so many of them are sitting on the carts.

The children are braver than they used to be they touch the coat of busós. For them the most interesting are the mace, the flapper and the cattle bell hanging from the waist of a busó.

But, for everybody the most curiosity is that who is under this happy, funny, or rigorous, fearful sad mask. Though a real busó would never show his face. This way his jokes and teasing will stay the secret of the carnival."

Detailed program of Busó Carnival 2016

4th February (Thursday) „Children’s Carnival”

9 am at the Youth Centre (Ifjúsági Centrum, 17 Széchenyi Square): “All dress up for Carnival” – Carnival preparations, organized by Primary School Széchenyi
10 am Busó-wheel competition at the Busó Court (Busóudvar, 17 Eötvös St.)
1 pm Opening of the photo exhibition „Raised on Busó’s milk” in the gallery of the Town Hall (1 Széchenyi Square)
1.30 pm Race of the Jankeles starting and ending on Széchenyi Square (Széchenyi Square, high street, Danube bank, Sokac Haven, Felszabadulás St., high street, Széchenyi Square)
3 pm Free Carnival celebration of young jankeles and little Busó groups in the streets and on the squares of the town
3 pm On the open-air stage on Széchenyi Square: children’s folk-dance groups and Busó groups
3.15 pm Carnival procession starting from the Sokac Circle (Táncsics St. – Szabadság St. – Széchenyi Square)
4-5 pm at Széchenyi Square: Demonstration of tools and accessories of the Busó Carnival
5 pm Exhibition in Kanizsai Dorottya Museum: Treasures of the Muraköz region and lace from Muraszentmárton
7 pm Busó dance house at Duna Office House

5th February (Friday)

10 am at the Town Hall (1 Széchenyi Square) Expert Conference of the 45th Lajos Schneider Folk Singers’ Meeting and 10th National Folk-Music Talent Contest
1 pm in German Nationality House (51 Kossuth L. St) Regional German folk-singing contest organized by the Local Government of German Minority and the Park Utca Elementary School
1 pm International Meeting of Carnival Pipers (see program details separately)
2 pm Performances of the folk-dance groups, Busó groups and music groups orchestras on the open-air stage on Széchenyi Square
3 pm Performances of the folk-dance groups, Busó groups and music groups orchestras on the open-air stage on Deák Square
4 pm Performance of the music group Sokadija on the open-air stage on Deák Square
4 pm Exhibition opening and winners’ announcement of the drawing competition „Our Busó Carnival” at the Busó Court
4 pm Concert of the band Alma for kids (with entrance fee) at the Youth Centre (Ifjúsági Centrum, 17 Széchenyi Square)
5 pm “Masks, Busó tools and other handicraft objects of folk art” Exhibition of selected works of Busó-mask carvers, accessory makers and other handicraft masters at Kossuth Movie Theater (1 Deák Square), featuring music group Šokadija
6 pm Collective concert of Kátya Tompos, the tambura players of the town and Julianna Majsai at Kossuth Movie Theater (with entrance fee)
7.30 pm Concert of Alexandra Berta and Pengetős Trió at Schneider Lajos School of Arts (Schneider Lajos Művészeti Iskola, 5-7 Vörösmarty St.) (with entrance fee)
8 pm Hungarian dance house at Schneider Lajos School of Arts featuring music group Bartina and folk dance ensemble Újhold
8 pm South-Slavic dance house with the music group Poklade at Duna Office House (4-6 Szabadság St.) (with entrance fee)

6th February (Saturday)

9 am 45th Lajos Schneider Folk Singers’ Meeting at Kossuth Movie Theater
10 am in the city centre: folk art and handicraft fair
From 10 am in the court of the Serbian Church: Performances of dance groups and Busó groups
From 10 am on the stage at the Busó Court: Performances of music groups, Busós and dance ensembles
From 10 am on the main stage on Széchenyi Square: Performances of dance groups, music groups and Busós
10.30 am Performance of the Sátorhely Folk Dance Group with instructions, on Széchenyi Square
1 pm Wedding march of the Botos Busó group from the Busó Court to Bensheim Square (also visiting the ferry port) and back to Széchenyi Square
2 pm – 6 pm in Síp Street: ”Veselje sa Bušama” – ”Joyful celebration with the Busós”, presentation of mask carving, Carnival games, cart decoration
3 pm ”Rebirth of the legend” the Drugovi Busó Group remembers the 2nd Battle of Mohács, with wreath-laying at the statue of the Three brave soldiers on Széchenyi Square
3.30 pm Performance of dance group Zora, then dance house with music by Poklade on Széchenyi Square
4.00 pm ”Inviting Spring” – Carnival games and dance house organized by the Schneider School of Arts and the Folk dance group Újhold at Kanizsai Dorottya Museum (9 Kisfaludy St.)
5 pm Discourse evening about the importance and the role of Busó masks in view of the experiences at international performances
6 pm on the open-air stage on Deák Square: Folk music concerts
7 pm „Hej, barátom!” (Hey, my friend!) Joint concert of the band Vujicsics and Levente Szörényi at Kossuth Movie Theater (with entrance fee)
7 pm at Youth Center (Ifjúsági Centrum, 17 Széchenyi Square) Hungarian ball organized by the Reading Circle of Mohács Citizens with music by Kikindai Betyárok (with entrance fee)
8 pm at Duna Office House: South-Slavic dance house, music by Dunavkinje (with entrance fee)
8 pm Sokac dance evening at the Schneider School of Arts with musik by group Poklade (with entrance fee)

7th February – Carnival Sunday

From 9 am in the main street: Folk art and handicraft fair
10 am Meeting the members of Busó group Kürtös at the Busó Court
10 am at the Kossuth Movie Theater (1 Deák Square) Folk-dance performance of nationalities
10 am on Széchenyi Square: Short shows of Busó groups
10 am – 2 pm at Kanizsai Dorottya Museum (9 Kisfaludy St): Presentation of lace-making and handicraft workshop
10 am – 2 pm in the court of the Serbian Church: Performances of dance groups and Busó groups
10 am – 2 pm on the stage at the Busó Court: Performances of music groups, Busós and dance ensembles
10.30 am on Széchenyi Square: Sokac dance house led by István Darazsacz, music: Poklade
From 12.30 pm at Sokac Haven (Sokac-rév): performances of dance groups, pipers and Busós followed by Busós crossing the Danube in boats
1.30 pm Wreath-laying at the memorial plaque of István ”Páták” Pávkovics together with Busó-group Drugovi (36 Gólya St.)
1.30 pm on the stage on Széchenyi Square: Folk-dance show of the nationalities
1.40 pm on Kóló Square: Gathering of the Busós and Carnival groups
2 pm Busó procession from Kóló Square to Széchenyi Square
2 pm on the stage of the Busó Court: Performances of folk dance groups and tambura players
2.30 pm Šokac folk songs performed by Éva Menyhárt on Széchenyi Square
3 pm at the Millennium Monument on the Danube bank: performances of dance groups, bands and Busó groups
3.30 pm on the open-air stage on the main square (Széchenyi Square): Busó initiation ceremony, awarding the Head of Busós, welcoming speech by the Mayor
3.30 pm Free Carnival celebration in the city center
4 pm Performances of the Busó groups and the Croatian folk dance groups on the stage on Széchenyi Square
4.30 pm on the bank of the Danube: Setting the Carnival coffin afloat from the ferry, featuring the Bödönhajós Busó-group
4.50 pm the collective orchestra of the Mohács Tambura School plays local folk music
5 pm on Széchenyi Square: Lighting the bonfire and round-dance of Busós
7 pm at Duna Office House: Dancing with the Busós, music by Center Band (with entrance fee)

8th February (Monday)

13 am at the Sokac Circle (Táncsics Street): Wreath-laying at the memorial plaque of Anka Kersics. Vocals by Vivien Gráf, accompanied by the collective tambura orchestra, followed by the traditional visits of Busós to the houses on Kóló Square and in the surrounding streets

9th February – Shrove Tuesday

2.30 pm Gathering on Kóló Square
3.00 pm March of the Busó groups along the main street to the main square
3.45 pm ”Picture of Busós” and “Picture of Sokac girls” on the stairs of the Town Hall, then free Carnival celebration in the streets of Mohács
4.30 pm on the stage on Széchenyi Square: Performance of folk dance ensemble Zora
4.45 pm Šokac folk songs performed by Éva Menyhárt
5.00 pm Live tambura music performed by local players
5.00 pm on Széchenyi Square: Lighting the bonfire – burning of the coffin, featuring the Buso Club

Busó Court (17 Eötvös St)
4th February (Thursday)
10 am Busó-wheel competition for 5th and 6th grade students
5th February (Friday)
4 pm Exhibition opening and winners’ announcement of the drawing competition „Our Busó Carnival”
6th February (Saturday)
2 – 5 pm: Handicraft workshop for kids
7th February (Sunday)
10 am – 1 pm Meeting the members of Busó group Kürtös
Opening times of the Busó Court:
4th to 7th February: 9 am – 5 pm
8th February: 9 am – 4 pm

Kanizsai Dorottya Museum (9 Kisfaludy St.)

4th February (Thursday)
5 pm Exhibition opening: Treasures of the Muraköz region and lace from Muraszentmárton

6th February (Saturday)
4.30 pm ”Inviting Spring” – Carnival games and dance house organized by the Schneider School of Arts and the Folk dance group Újhold

7th February (Sunday)
10 am – 2 pm Presentation of lace-making and handicraft workshop (with entrance fee)

Opening times of the Kanizsai Dorottya Museum:
04th and 08th February: 10 am – 5 pm
5th February: 10 am – 6 pm
6th and 7th February: 9 am – 5 pm
9th February: 10 am – 3 pm

Organisers reserve the right to change event schedule.

Source:  www.mohacsibusojaras.hu