Advent

      In the homes of Christian families in the living room, the Advent candles were lit in the time before Christmas as a symbol of heavenly light, which promised redemption and eternal happiness. In Sathmar, Advent is distinguished by the attendance at Rorate Masses.

      The Rorate Mass was celebrated earlier than on other workdays. In the darkness of a winter morning, the church visitors, mainly women and children, can not be seen; only the flickering lanterns they carry in their hands come nearer to the church from all directions like moving stars. At the church, the lanterns are extinguished and candles lit. Everyone who comes to the Rorate has to have a candle. So one light after another enters the church, and finally the candles at the altar are lighted, and the priest begins the service. The children find the experience of Rorate in the candle-lit town church gruesomely beautiful and are happy that only a few days separate them from the birth of the Christ-child.

Holy Saturday

      Early in the morning, boys gather in front of the church with logs in their hands for a fire blessing. The church warden lights the fire and puts the logs on. Now the priest appears and blesses the kindled logs, which the boys then take home quickly. The blessed logs are kept in the attic or in the barn, to protect the house and barn from fire.

      After the long period of fasting (during Lent), which our ancestors took very seriously, a tempting aroma now comes out of the kitchen on Holy Saturday. Cakes and white bread are being baked, eggs are being colored, and ham is cooking. For today, only the smells are to be enjoyed, because the ham can only be eaten on Easter Sunday.

Blessing the Ham

      Before the High Mass on Easter Sunday, the mother puts cooked ham, milk-bread, colored eggs, and horseradish into a basket, called Krotta, which is lined with a white cloth. This basket, truly not light, is entrusted to a strong boy or growing young woman. These responsible caretakers hurry now to the church. Here they form two lines and, weather permitting, wait for the priest outside the church, putting their baskets on the ground, opening the cloths, and examining the contents of the other baskets around them. The priest appears at the sound of bells and carries out the blessing.

      The priest has hardly disappeared into the sacristy, as each one hurries back home. The family, gathered into one room, is waiting impatiently for the return of the "Trager" (carrier), because now they can have ham, milk-bread and colored eggs for breakfast. While the father gives the adults a glass of whiskey, the mother pours coffee for the children. First, everyone wishes each other a happy Easter.

Madlanetza (Drench the Girls)

      While on Easter Sunday the extensive meal apparently contributes to the festive mood, the second part of the holiday brings much joy, especially for the young. Already early in the day, there is lively activity in the streets. We see the young men, armed with a bottle, alone and in groups, going around visiting the houses where girls they know live. They spray the representatives of the gentle sex, so "the bloom does not fade". As a reward, the "Netzer" (waterer) receives all kinds of gifts: Easter eggs, coins, tobacco, and fruit.

      The bottle is filled with rose water. Through a fancy canvas lid, the wet benediction shoots onto the girls, who is dripping wet if she is visited by many admirers. In the end, the self-sufficient, who filled their spray weapons with fragrant, soapy water, are remembered.

Weddings

      Before the couple goes to the church, they pray three Our Fathers and the Apostles Creed with their relatives and guests. Then the young couple say good-bye to their parents and siblings. The marriage procession is led on the way to church by the bride and her brother. The groom and his sister form the second pair. As a rule, the church wedding takes place in Scheindorf in the morning. Before the guests leave the church, the children lock the church doors; if someone wants to go out, they must pay. Now they go home, generally to the bride's home. Here, also, the door is locked. The cooks, who look like they are armed with cooking spoons and ladles, as well as forks, must be appeased with money. The communal noon meal follows. In the afternoon, the couples dance. During the evening meal, someone steals the bride's shoes. Since she can not dance without her shoes, her father is forced to buy them back from the "thief". Shortly before midnight, the bride's dance takes place. Everyone who dances with the bride has to pay something for the "Wieagabandl" (cradle ribbon). At midnight, the bride's crown is removed, she is prayed for, and she is given a white kerchief. With this, the bridal couple is taken into the circle of married people. Afterwards, the dancing continues.

Maypole "sticking"

      The Maypole of the Scheindorfer Swabians is the birch. In the night of May 1, the young men "stick" a Maypole in the ground of their sweethearts as a sign of friendship. If it concerns a bride-to-be, then the birch pole is decorated with colorful ribbons. If the girl's father thinks well of the friend, then he will entertain him and his helpers.

      On this day, we think not only of love and friendship, but also of the Creator. Thus, the young men also "stick" four Maypoles at church, two by the church cross, and two at the field cross.

Funkensonntag (Fire Sunday)