What is Sprinkling-pálinka?

One of the most popular Hungarian Easter traditions is “locsolkodás”, which can loosely be translated as "sprinkling the womenfolk". It is still practised today in smaller towns and the countryside. On Easter Monday, boys are allowed to sprinkle girls with water or perfume – traditionally, a bucket of water is thrown on them. And the girls then offer "their sprinklers" painted eggs, homemade treats or a little shot of pálinka in return. If the latter, which often happens, then daytime drunkenness among the menfolk is a given. To earn their pálinka, men must also recite a  “locsoló" (sprinkler) verse, slightly humorous or innocently racy. The sprinkling of water or perfume dates back to pre-Christian fertility symbols. 

What is Bridal-pálinka?

Traditionally in rural Hungary the weddings started in the spring and lasted until early summer. Wedding-pálinka was made specially for the wedding and some honey - and sometimes some spices - were added to the special wedding spirit. This "honey liquor" became the bridal pálinka. It was also drunk by the bride, and by the tradition she had to drink it for a week or two after the wedding to ensure that a child was born as soon as possible. Hence the term “mézes hetek” in Hungarian, which translates as “honey weeks” or honeymoon.

What is Pledge-pálinka?

The animal fairs and stockyards that started in the spring were an event completely unthinkable without pálinka. Pálinka was the liquid contract. When the sale was made in the stockyards buyer and seller would clap their hands and drink the “Pledge Pálinka”. From there on the deal was legal and no one disputed it. The pálinka used as pledge pálinka was most often made from mixed fruits or pomace.