The old Hungarian name of the first month of the year is Boldogasszony (Our Lady), dedicated to Virgin Mary.
January 1 - New Year's Day and feast of the Virgin Mary. This day was also called Little Christmas Day by the people of Rye Island. Great care was taken that on this day a woman would not cross the threshold of the house, and also that it should always be a man who first wishes a happy new year (to the family). Girls and women, did not go out so that luck or health would not be taken out of the house. On New Year's Day, they were only allowed to go to church. Poultry was not consumed so as it would not fly away with the luck of the house. The festive soup was cooked from pork or beef to keep the family strong and healthy all year long.
January 6 - Feast of the Epiphany, Day of the Three Kings. The walk of the three kings was a tradition on Rye Island. Three boys in white shirts visited the houses of the village at this time. They put a paper crown on their heads. One of the kings had a white face, he was for Menyh. Gaspar painted his face brown, while Boldizsár (Balthazar) symbolized Africa. They went from house to house and carried good luck. In the villages along the Danube, Epiphany was also the day of the millers. Houses are also blessed at Epiphany. The priest and his company went around the house in prayer and consecrated it with holy water and incense. After the completion of the ceremony, he wrote with chalk on the top of the door the year of consecration and the names of the three kings: e.g. 20 + G + M + B + 15. On this day, the farmer from Rye Island also observed the weather: if the eaves were dripping on this day, winter would soon be over, a good harvest is promised.
January 22 - Vince's Day (St. Vincent). Peasants watched the weather on this day and believed that if Vince’s day was nice, the weather was clear, the wine cellar would be filled with wine.
January 25 - Apostle Paul's Day of Conversion. This day is known as pálforduló on Rye Island. Religiously, it signifies the conversion of apostle Paul. According to popular interpretation, this day is about half of the winter period, meaning after this we are soon out of winter.
