The folk language of Rye Island refers to goofy, brainless people with the term dőre. The dőre-walking is a march, a mockery and by the same token the closing of the carnival season. It used to take place on Fat Tuesday, but today it is celebrated on the last Saturday of the carnival. The origins of this custom at the end of the festive season date back to the ages of antiquity. Hence the tradition that only men can take part in this winter burial goofiness, so female roles are also played by men (What an eye-catching sight it is to spot a pretty bride with a moustache!). The focus of the parade is on the young couple, accompanied by a well-organized wedding procession.
In the village of Béke, the exceptional wedding procession, starts in the middle of the village, as usual, right in front of the House of Culture. The bride marches in the front, - due to the cold weather - tightly embracing „her” fiancé, accompanied by the bridesmaids and the best man. Of course, a real wedding also includes good music, which is provided by a band of excellent musicians. The procession is accompanied by adults and masked children dressed in various costumes portraying figures of typical village inhabitants. There is a chimney sweep, a gypsy woman and, of course, various animal figures. Naturally, there are also firefighters dressed in uniforms who take care of the order and the good mood of the participants.
Despite the harsh weather, the wedding procession rocks from house to house with wit and loud singing. Some of the villagers even invite the young couple into their houses, but those who are a bit shy, meet the funny crowd in front of their gates, offering them freshly baked, spicy carnival donuts and aromatic mulled wine that brings a little warmth.
An indispensable accessory of the dőre-walking in Béke is a carriage, nicknamed szekerkó by the locals, which - in the absence of horses -, is nowadays tied behind an age-matched tractor, and being good hosts, the party offers refreshments and fine wine from it for accompanying villagers. At the end of the parade, the tired dőre-team will be hosted at the House of Culture. The participants then discuss the events of the day in a good mood, amused, heavily interrupting each others’ recollections. After everything has been eaten, everyone heads home with a full belly and a decision that the dőre-walking must be organised next year again to bring some fun to the life of the village.
