Szüreti

Szüreti is the traditional autumn harvest festival in Hungary, focusing on the grape harvest and wine production. It is celebrated in rural communities and wine regions, often marking the end of the harvest season with communal gatherings, processions, music, food, and wine.

Origins date to medieval Hungary, rooted in agrarian life and the wine culture of the Carpathian Basin. The festival developed from harvest rituals tied to the agricultural calendar and, in many places, to religious feast days in late September or October.

Typical activities include grape picking and sorting, grape pressing or stomping, and blessing or tasting of new wines. Streets host parades with decorated carts, dancers, and musicians; markets offer local products, pastries, sausages, and wines.

Regional variations exist across Hungary, with prominent events in wine regions such as Tokaj, Eger, Villány, and Szekszárd. Szüreti celebrations often feature harvest balls, street fairs, traditional music, and grape-press competitions.

Today, Szüreti serves as cultural preservation and local tourism, organized by municipalities, cultural associations, and wine houses; it helps sustain traditional crafts, gastronomy, and winemaking, while providing a festive focal point for communities to gather.