The ‘pókos’ (literally means spider) needle-lace origins from the village of Hövej. This still-living form of decoration has been appeared in the 1880s. The flower patterns middle holes are meshed with thin thread and then filled translucent web-like.
The most valuable piece of work is filled with a lot of web-like thread (‘pókozás’) and the interior filling of each flower motif is made with another ‘spider’ technique. The lace of Hövej is white coloured. Patterns, elements of stitches and web-like ‘spider’ spottings have been inherited through generations. The holes of the flowers are filled out with sewing needles this is the reason why this lace is also called lacemaking. Learning sewing begins in childhood and as soon as people get enough practise can try the most difficult task, the ‘pókozás’.
Love, endurance and last but not least patience are needed in order to learn the creation process of the Hövej’s lace. The residents are proud of the art of lace-making which both technically and both in richness of motifs has developed over the years. The heritage of Hövej's is a highlight of Hungarian folk art and can also be found in the village's coat-of-arms.
The responsible institution for the professional coordinating of the UNESCO Convention in Hungary:
Directorate of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Hungarian Open Air Museum
