pohánné

Pohánné is a fictional folkloric figure associated with a Hungarian-inspired harvest tradition. The name appears to derive from pohánka, buckwheat, with the feminine suffix -né, giving it the sense of a matronly guardian of the harvest.

Etymology and origins: The construction of the name signals a link to buckwheat and to a venerable female figure. In the stories, Pohánné is not a classical deity but a personification of nourishment, community memory, and the seasonal cycle of planting and gathering. Regional retellings may emphasize different attributes, garments, or tools, reflecting local agricultural practices.

Role and symbolism: Pohánné acts as a harvest guardian who blesses fields, protects crops from misfortune, and guides farmers toward a bountiful season. Iconography commonly depicts her with a basket of buckwheat grains, a shawl or apron, and sometimes a simple sickle, standing near fields or granaries. Rituals associated with Pohánné often center on communal food sharing, such as a post-harvest porridge ceremony, and small offerings to ensure fertility for the next year.

In culture and media: In modern tellings, Pohánné appears in folk-inspired poetry, short fiction, and community festivals that celebrate regional agriculture and culinary traditions. She serves as a symbol of sustenance, regional identity, and cooperative values.

Note: Pohánné is not attested as a historical deity in established scholarship and is primarily used in fictional or contemporary reinterpretations of agricultural folklore.