mesemondás

Mesemondás is the art of oral storytelling in Hungarian culture, encompassing fairy tales, legends, myths, and contemporary narratives told aloud to entertain, convey values, or educate. A mesemondó uses voice, pace, repetition, and gesture; interactions with the audience, pauses, and varying tone are common. Performance can occur in family settings, schools, libraries, or public events.

Historically, mesemondás has deep roots in traditional Hungarian folk culture, with tales transmitted orally across generations. It sits alongside written folklore and literature, contributing to linguistic creativity and cultural memory. During the 19th and 20th centuries storytellers and educators helped preserve folk narratives and adapt them for children and schools.

Practices and forms include telling folktales, legends, myths, personal anecdotes, and modern narratives. Performance elements include expressive voice, rhythm, repetition, and audience participation. Motifs range from magical beings and quests to moral lessons; narratives are often tailored to age, setting, and local tradition.

In contemporary Hungary mesemondás remains present in classrooms, libraries, cultural festivals, media, and online platforms. Practitioners organize workshops, publish collections, and host events such as storytelling gatherings and competitions. The tradition supports language development, imagination, and the transmission of cultural memory across generations.

See also: oral tradition, Hungarian folklore, storytelling.