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We wish all our kind Readers a Happy and Healthy New Year! Minden kedves Olvasónknak Boldog Új Évet kivánunk! The new year has arrived silently, without leaving a footprint. Only the moon and the sun indicated that the new year has arrived. Only people with good cheer and in festive attire awaited it, as 365 days of hope. Új esztendı Kányádi Sándor Új esztendı, új esztendı, nem tud rólad a nagy erdı, sem a hó alatt a határ, sem a határ fölött szálló árva madár. Új esztendı, új esztendı, nem volt a nyakadban csengı, nesztelenül érkeztél meg, lábad nyomát nem érezték az ösvények. Csak a hold, az elmerengı, csak a nap, az alvajáró, jelezték, hogy újra megjı éjfélkor az esedékes új esztendı. Csak mi vártunk illendıen, vidám kedvvel, ünneplıben, csak a népek vártak téged, háromszázhatvanöt napi reménységnek. Kányádi Sándor (1929 - 2018), was a prodigious Transylvanian poet (see November issue of Magyar News Online). Drawing extensively on Nature, he also wrote poetry as well as fairytales for children. In addition, he was also a translator, and his own works were translated into several languages. Many of his poems have been set to mu- sic. Hungarian School of Magyar Studies of America's Christmas party On December 10th, the Hungarian School of Magyar Studies of America in Fairfield, CT held its annual Christmas party at Fairfield Middle School. Top: Sampling the goodies is teacher Csilla Giaume; teachers and students singing Hungarian Christmas carols, with teacher Kinga Krammer. Bottom: Students and teachers at the party. Children’s Christmas Program, Fairfield, CT viola vonfi On December 16th, the Pannonia American Hungarian Club presented its children’s program at the Cal- vin United Church of Christ in Fairfield, CT. Valéria Miklós, newly elected President of the Pannonia American Hungarian Club welcomed the atten- dees to the Calvin United Church of Christ’s annual Christmas program on December 16th. Zsuzsanna Deer once again organized the program, which included individual and group recitation of poems, cello numbers, clarinet performances, a flute piece and a Christmas play presented by the Beodray Ferenc Scout Troop of Wallingford. Of course Santa arrived at the end of the program, and with children climbing on his knee, offered each of them a bag of goodies. Rev. Tibor Király gave the invocation and the closing words. Consul Dr. Imre Szakács came up from New York to express his appreciation of, and support for this traditional celebration which filled the church hall. Terre Haute (IN) Hungarian Club is 109! EPF Kathy Miller is Treasurer of the Terre Haute, IN, Hungarian Club. I had contacted her at the suggestion of dr. Tóth Gergely (see December 2018 issue of MNO), and she replied with the following, in relation to the age of the Walling- ford, CT Hungarian House. ”I enjoyed reading about the Wal- ”Terre Haute's first Hungarian Work- lingford Club on your home page. I ing Men's Benefit and Death Society had the opportunity to drive by their was established July 30th, 1909. hall in October when I was in Con- necticut. It was impressive. Our ”In the early 1900s, immigration to Terre Haute group does have the the United States experienced a longevity edge, though – we were peak period. Many of these immi- founded in 1909 and celebrated our grants were Hungarians seeking a 109th anniversary this past sum- Emblem of the original Hungarian place of political stability and oppor- mer.” Working Men's Benefit and Death tunity to live. Typically, the men Society of Terre Haute, IN, with came first, found a place to work, She then referred me to their web- date of founding raised a little money, then returned page, from which I quote verbatim: to their homeland and brought their wives and children back to America. Top: Spring Dance 2014; Magyar Klub officers, l to r: Steve Muchki, Trustee; Eileen Prose, VP; Kay French, Secy; Kathy Miller, Treasurer; Larry Wilson, President. Bottom: Magyar Klub booth at Chili Cookoff; rummage sale ”Terre Haute, Indiana, with its industry quired in 1956 from Paul Metro. The and railroads was one of the thriving Hall became a place for meetings and Different New Year’s cities the Hungarians would make their dances, wedding parties and wakes. Customs home in the early part of the 20th cen- To this day, the annual Harvest Dance viola vonfi tury. At least 40 families settled into a in October has been one of the lasting neighborhood just east of the Malle- traditions.” In some families, they used to bake able & Mfg. Co. near 19th and Maple so-called ”good luck pogácsa” on New Streets on the city’s northside. Over ”Currently, the building is available to Year’s Eve. A coin was placed in one the years, many of them worked at rent. It has a licensed kitchen, wet bar, before baking, and whoever got it was ’the Malleable’ as it was called. Others stage, central air, and seats up to 100 presumed to have good luck in the were railroaders, miners, craftsmen, guests. The club is accepting mem- coming year. (In my family, Mom fried teachers or storekeepers. As the immi- bers, both Hungarian and non- doughnuts on New Year’s Eve, and grants typically worked in the most Hungarian. Meetings are held Dad gave her a coin to put inside dangerous jobs, most major insurance monthly, as well as a members' lunch- one.) companies would not insure them, and eon. Annual activities typically include these were the days long before pri- two dances, rummage sales and other At midnight of New Year’s Eve, some vate corporation and government in- fundraisers. There is also interest in farmers would draw water from the surance plans were available. Ethnic collecting and recording the history of well. This was called ” aranyvíz ”, or communities in many cities would form the organization.” ”golden water”. Anyone drinking from their own sick-benefit societies. Also, it would be liable to become rich! this was before funeral homes and She added: ”We have 60 regular common practice at that time was for members, 11 social members and 5 New Year’s Eve dreams were said to families to hold a wake for their dead honorary members.” come true. family member in their own home. However, the newest immigrants lived And then she wrote what really made New Year’s Day is often popularly in boarding houses with their only sup- us feel on top of the world: "Your called ” kiskarácsony ”, or ”little Christ- port being their fellow immigrants. newsletter is so interesting! It is such a mas”. In some localities that is when Such was the case in Terre Haute mixture of topics, historical and cur- the children receive gifts, not from the when a Hungarian man passed away rent. I will be able to share topics from angels or the Christ Child, but from the with no family present. it at our monthly meetings as a ”New Year’s Colt”. (I never heard 'Hungarian 101' topic." about this one either!) By ”gifts” were ”The Terre Haute Hungarians went meant apples, walnuts or pogácsa . together to pay for his funeral and in Thank you, Kathy, for your kind words. 1909, established Terre Haute’s First And although Connecticut cannot claim Another popular belief held that if girls Hungarian Working Men’s Benefit and to have the oldest Hungarian Club, we wanted to know whether they would Death Society, as it was originally are proud of both Hungarian achieve- get married that following year, they named, with the following purpose: ’To ments! May they continue their noble should run to the pigsty and kick the financially assist its sick members, to endeavors for many more generations wall of the sty. If the pigs grunted, bury its dead members, to cultivate to come! the girls would be tieing the knot. the spirit of <Brotherhood>, and to preserve and strengthen the Hungar- Kathryn (Kathy) Miller is Treasurer of May you be the one who found the ian culture and heritage.’ Group gath- the Terre Haute Hungarian Club. Her good luck pogácsa this time! erings were held at a picnic grounds father, William Hornyak, immigrated to on Maple Avenue and at a building on the US from Csóka in the Bánát region viola vonfi is our correspondent from Maple across from The Malleable. Gen- (now a part of Serbia), in 1910. Her Stamford, CT. She finds it amusing erally known as the Hungarian Lodge, mother, Elizabeth Lukács, and her that one of her ancestors was knighted the organization acquired two lots on grandparents came from Temesvár, by Wallenstein during the Thirty Years’ the corner of N. 22nd and Linden Transylvania in 1927. Kathy has a BS Streets in December 1912 from Minnie in Civil Engineering and an MBA. She and Martin Bortlein and Nathan and had a varied career, managing con- Nellie Wallace, for $275 each. By 1920, struction projects, real estate and be- the Hungarian Hall was built. It was ing a certified purchasing man- heated by a coal stove and had long ager. She retired a year ago. One of benches along the sidewalls for seat- her two children lives in Connecti- ing. Originally of wood construction, cut. And no, the Ed Hornyák we wrote the building acquired a brick veneer in about in an early issue of MNO is NOT 1937 by R. G. Maskell. An additional a relation. piece of adjacent property was ac- New Year’s Day pogácsa. Christmas Luncheon, St. Stephen of Hungary Church in Passaic, NJ On December 23rd, St. Stephen of Hungary Church in Passaic, NJ held its annual Christmas luncheon, as reported by Emese Kerkay, who also took the photos.