Shepherds Drive Livestock to Winter Quarters at Hortobágy’s Traditional Festival

At this year’s St. Dömötör Day herding festival on October 24, shepherds and their herds—Hungarian Racka sheep, Nonius horses, and teams of buffalo and gray cattle—marched from the pastures of the Puszta across the Nine-Hole Bridge in Hortobágy toward their winter quarters, just as they have done for centuries. For many years now, this living folk tradition has offered a special spectacle and experience for people of all ages.

At this year’s St. Dömötör Day herding festival on October 24, shepherds led Hungarian Racka sheep, Nonius horses, and herds of buffalo and gray cattle to their winter quarters.

Beyond the fact that the ancient folklore of the St. Dömötör Day drive has largely been preserved as a national heritage passed down through the generations, tourism has also found a niche in these shepherds’ gatherings in recent years. The village of Hortobágy and the surrounding plains have long been the site of a bustling bridge fair—held twice a year, during the out-drive and in-drive. On Saturday, an astonishing crowd welcomed the animals driven in from the plains at the fairgrounds at the foot of the Nine-Hole Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In addition to being a folk tradition, the St. Dömötör Day has become a tourist attraction.

Amid the crackling and popping of whips and shouts, surrounded by the lively performance of a host of folk dancers and embraced by a large audience interested in folk traditions, shepherds and herders accompanied the four-legged animals—herds of Hungarian Racka sheep, Nonius horses, buffalo, and gray cattle—in a spectacular procession to the center of Hortobágy.

One of the speakers at the ceremony, Bernadett Budai, managing director of Hortobágyi Nonprofit Kft., highlighted the significance of shepherding knowledge, the resilience of native Hungarian livestock, and the importance of grazing for nature conservation in the face of climate change, in connection with the 2026 International Year of Pastures and Shepherds.

After the roundup and the conclusion of the fair, the shepherds and their guests lit shepherd’s fires, while the herd assessors reported on the number of livestock, their health, and how the animals and shepherds had fared during the summer heat and drought.

Via szoljon.hu; Featured photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt

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