About Jász World Days

The Jász culture in the world

Our culture in the world is presented also by the exhibition of Ossetian artists (a people relative to the Jász), which will also be opened on Saturday, after the gala, in the attic gallery of the City Library. The exhibition offers an insight into the everyday life of the North Ossetian - Alan Republic (part of the Russian Federation), through the works of internationally significant artists from different age groups.

The Ossetian painters aspire to show their past, Alan traditions, drawing on contemporary artistic currents. At the exhibition, the Hungarian audience can discover the deeply rooting Ossetian-Alan culture, even with an insight into the world of the heroic Nart Saga. The 3000-year-old Nart Saga is the traditional mythology of the North-Iranian peoples of the Caucasus (Scythians, Sarmatians, Alans). The Saga contains the legends of the Ossetians, that is the descendants of the Alans.

The Jász (closest relatives of the Ossetians) knew this epic in the 14th century. Thus these two peoples consider it important to preserve their cultures together, and to keep in touch, for which an ideal occasion is the 19th Jász World Summit to be organized in Jászberény, the so-called Jász capital.

Preserving traditions: the basics

Coming back from the exhibition to the main square, the presentations of traditionalist groups await the visitor at the main stage by Jászberény Perpetuators Ensemble and the Jász Perpetuators Association. The key leader and methodological center for the Jász tradition is the 139-year-old Jász Museum, which, besides its scientific and cultural activity also considerably assists and supports the preservation of traditions. In 2007 the Orbán Sipos Children’s Local Studies Group, and in 2008 the Jász Perpetuators Association was established in the Jász Museum. The members of both are making great efforts to discover, revive and preserve the Jász traditions.

The Jászberény Perpetuators Ensemble was established in 1998, and at present it has 30 members. All their activities so far have served their objective; that is to discover and learn forgotten Jász dances, traditions and outfits.

After reviving the past, the world summit offers Saturday evening programs for visitors interested in the present. First a concert by Magdi Rúzsa, then a sensational street party will entertain those who do not wish to end the most important day of the world summit in the late afternoon.

Day three is for artists and craftsmen

Without a doubt, the most eventful day of the world summit is Saturday, but as a novelty, this year we would like to raise the quality of the third day to that of the previous two. It would lose its less intense character, on the contrary, it would provide useful and enjoyable possibilities for those who would like to know more about Jász arts, crafts and gastronomy.