We wish all our kind Readers a very blessed Christmas! Áldásos karácsonyi ünnepeket kivánunk minden kedves Ol- vasónknak! This an embroidered wall covering. We particularly thank Szalma Kati of Szalma Csárda és Panzió, Esztergom for pho tographing this piece from their collection.
well as doboska with poppy seeds. There with red apples. We had Christmas wa Christmas was a strict fast, so everything had been fers too, that Grandma baked in the sum prepared without lard or butter. mer kitchen. Meanwhile, we sang. There were no presents at all. That year, there
Memories “After supper, we children lay down to was no Midnight Mass either.” Childhood memories of Christmas ac sleep on the straw under the table. When company us throughout our lives. These they began to ring the bells for Midnight stories were culled from a church bulletin Mass, we ran down to the brook again to published by the Roman Catholic wash. We went to Midnight Mass to churches of Torna and Tornaújfalu in gether. In the morning, our parents Varga Terézia of Torna recalled: strewed small change into the water in 2009. The respondents had been asked the wash basin in which we had about the Christmases of their childhood. washed. We were very happy to find the ”The Christmas tree was a very poor af money. fair. On it were walnuts painted sil ver. Szaloncukor was cubed sugar “On the afternoon of the first day of wrapped in colored paper. But we loved Fazekas Mária of Torna related Christmas, we went to carol under the Christmas very much. In Somodi it was windows; on the second day of Christ the custom that no one could step into the following: the house before singing a Christmas mas, the boys dropped in to the various families with Christmas greetings, for carol under the window. “We were Greek (i.e., Byzantine rite) Catholics. On Christmas Eve, the church which they too received money.” ”On Christmas Eve, we went singing bells were rung at 4 o’clock in the after through the village, until they rang the noon. We raced to the brook, to wash bells for the second time for Midnight ourselves, and then waited for sup Mass. per. Dad brought in a bale of straw and strewed it under the kitchen table, while Szilágyi László of Újfalu remem- ”For supper there was only cabbage telling the story of Jesus’ birth. After this soup and bobajka (see the December we all knelt down around the table and bered this: started to pray and sing. 2012 issue of Magyar News Online for “For supper, there were seven courses, ”During the war, in 1944, our Christmas this dish). We knelt around the Christ but we ate only a little of each tree was merely a pine bough leaning mas tree, we prayed and sang. Only one. There was bean soup, lentil soup, against the wall. We decorated it with after that could we touch the presents.” pea soup, boiled potatoes and prunes, as gilded nuts from the previous year and A Time-Honored Tradition: seems to be rather monotonous work, “In the course of World War II, on 12 one can find joy in it. Especially the chil 16 1944, the Soviet army’s 2 nd and the Christmas Wafers dren loved to watch the wafers being Ukrainian army’s 3 rd military units sur baked. They liked to set the fire and rounded Budapest, after which the Christmas wafers are a Central Euro stare into the flames. They were happy siege of the Hungarian capital began. pean tradition, popular especially when the wafer stuck to the waffle iron, Close to 200,000 Hungarian and Ger among Byzantine rite Catholics. They because that was definitely theirs, warm man soldiers defended Budapest may be oblong, round or oval, and and crisp. In most places, it was the job against heavy odds. The defenders carry a religious symbol on them. Cus of the grandparents to bake the wafers, withdrew to Buda on 1 18 1945, and naturally surrounded by grandchildren. tomarily they are handed around at the Pest fell to Soviet control. The German beginning of the Christmas Eve meal, units blew up the Danube bridges. The Even in their grown up years they fondly with each person receiving either a siege continued for 49 days, with fight whole wafer, or a piece of a large wa recall these days of baking the wafers. To make the mood even more Christ ing from street to street, house to fer. house, the defenders running out of mas y, one can also sing those Christ mas carols, which the grandchildren will ammunition, the inhabitants hard hit by The following description of how they the lack of food supplies, and the total are made is again taken from the sing when they go caroling. For those willing to try, here is the recipe lack of public utility services (this Christmas church bulletin of Torna, (will make 55 60 wafers): meant no water, no electricity, to men dated 2009. tion only the most basic needs. Trans.) 1 lb white flour From time immemorial, people have ½ qt lukewarm milk “Fifty thousand Hungarian and German been baking wafers for Christmas in Tor ½ cup lukewarm water soldiers fell, as did 3,000 csendır naújfalu. In the 20th century, until about ½ packet of vanilla flavored sugar (gendarmes) who fought alongside the 1920, the wafers were baked in only one 1 egg white Hungarian troops, and 25,000 civilians place, at the house of the kántortanító , a pinch of baking soda died. the village schoolmaster and cantor. We 1 Tbsp butter, melted don’t know whether this was the job of Stir together all ingredients and let stand ”The siege ended on 2 15 1945. After the schoolmaster in the rural areas, be for at least 2 hours. If the batter seems cause there does not seem to be any the battles, 138,000 German and Hun too thin, add 1 2 Tbsp flour. (Before it is garian soldiers were taken pris reference to this. Certainly the neighbors baked, the batter has to remain luke oner. Of the close to 40,000 buildings and the more skilled cooks and baking warm, NOT warm, or it will thicken.) in the capital, 27% were totally de women must have helped, because very many wafers had to be baked even for a stroyed, and 74% suffered damage...” small village like ours. Those are the statistics; this poem A few days before Christmas, the wafers brings the siege down to the personal were carried around the village by the level: older students in a ” szentelı kosár”, i.e. a blessing basket. The students would greet the families with a poem they had Rettegés learned at school. In payment, the schoolmaster and cantor received eggs, beans, poppy seeds, walnuts... Malomvizi Magda After the 1920’s, it was no longer the Hat hete tart már. Rabságban élünk. schoolmaster who baked the Christmas 1944: The Christmas That Le a ruhánkat nem merjük vetni. wafers for the village. During Advent, the Nem mernénk soha egyet nevetni. waffle irons (there were two by then) Wasn’t Éjjel és nappal remegünk, félünk. were taken from family to family, and were almost constantly in use until It was 70 years ago that the siege of Dobban a szívünk, zörgés ha hallik. Christmas Eve... Budapest began. It seems fitting that Itt a katona – suttogjuk fázva. we recall those darkest of days, the Szükség van tán kvartélyra, fára? The batter for wafers was made similar year when Christmas was not, when Vagy pláne nıre? – Belénk nyilallik. to palacsinta , then poured on the waffle no one yearned more fervently for iron with a smaller ladle. The waffle iron “peace on earth” than the frightened Hogyha bombáznak, ágyúszó dördül, was then closed, and slid in above the inhabitants of Budapest, huddled in Megrendül a ház, ablak megzördül: embers. About half a minute later, it had damp cellars. Meg sem rezdül a szemünk pillája. to be turned. Some religious persons said that the wafer baked to the right De kérjük Istent égı ajakkal: consistency during the time it took to say Under the heading “Budapest ostroma” one Hail Mary… – The siege of Budapest – the Ency Védjen meg. Óvjon éjjel és nappal. clopaedia Hungarica lists these cold, Hogy katona ne lépjen a házba. Baking the wafers in the family conjured stark facts: up the Christmas spirit. Although it Fright I was born at the end of World War II in the eastern part of Hungary which, after the war, became part of western Malomvizi Magda Ukraine (then in the Soviet Union). So I grew up in the Subcarpathian region which was quite multina Six weeks it has lasted already. We live in captivity. tional. The majority of the region ( Kárpátalja ) was Hun We don’t dare take off our clothes. garian. The largest minority group was Rusyn We wouldn’t dare to have a laugh. (Ruthenian) followed by a large population of Jews, and a Day and night we tremble, we’re afraid. few other much smaller ethnic groups. It was a very mul ticultural region, and we all lived in peace. I was 13 years Our heart beats, when there’s a knock. old when my small family could repatriate to Hungary. "The soldiers are here”, we whisper, shivering. "Perhaps there’s need for lodgings, firewood? Living in Subcarpathia, we followed our color Or even women?” – the pain shoots through us. ful Hungarian customs, but were no strangers to the cus toms of the region either. As a child whose memory goes When they bomb, when the cannon roar, back as far as 3 years of age, I remember our Christmas The house shakes, the windows rattle: celebrations and how we prepared to meet this holy We don’t even bat an eye. event. In America, the Christmas tree is decorated well before the coming of Jesus; according to our customs, it But we beg God, with burning lips: did not appear in the house until Christmas Eve. And I May He defend us. Protect us day and night. used the word "appear" intentionally. In our tradition, the Let soldiers not step into the house. Angels brought the Christmas tree while we were in church for the Christmas Eve service. I remember how I Malomvizi Magda was the penname of Vajk Magda wondered about the ability of the Angels to go through the aka Dusi (1895 – 1970), the oldest child of Vajk keyhole to our house and place a huge, beautifully deco József and his wife, malomvízi Malom Piroska. Like rated tree in our room. The presents were brought by everyone else in the capital, she, her husband Theiss Baby Jesus (not by Santa Claus; his day – actually night – Ede (a pioneer in the field of mathematical economics) was December 6th when Santa /Mikulás left a small pre and their 14 year old daughter Amrita spent the siege sent of an orange and perhaps some nuts for the good of Budapest in the cellar. children. He left them in our shoes that we had put out before we went to bed that night). A Child’s Christmas in Kárpátalja Our presents were very modest, especially by today's Maria Szaplonczay Schweikert high tech standards. They were not wrapped due to the fact that we did not have wrapping paper. (I grew up in Another fond remembrance of Christmas past, the 1950s during the Stalinist years when even the most from a rarely mentioned Hungarian inhabited essential things were not available.) When we children region. came back from church with Grandma (the mothers stayed home to decorate the tree), we were not allowed to go into the room because "the Angels were working on putting up the tree". We were very excited and full of ex pectation... Then a tiny bell sounded which meant that we could go into the room and see the tree, and what Jesus left for us under the tree. We gathered around the Christmas tree, sang a few Christmas carols, and then we received our presents. I was about 3 4 years old, and I was extremely happy be cause I got a rag doll, colored pencils, and a pair of socks. My cousins were older, so they received books, socks, and some other small items. We all received pea nuts, and maybe an orange. Those were very rare at other times of the year. My big treat was raisins which we never saw at any other time. (I love raisins, and to this day, I cannot get enough of them, and have a small por tion of raisins in my oatmeal almost every day.) Maria 5 years old On Christmas Eve day, we had our traditional mushroom soup with vegetables and rice, and since we fasted before Christmas Day, we had fish, cooked dry fruit (apples, prune plums, apricots) which were not bought in stores. People would dry the various they reminded me of a setting sun’s types of fruit while they were in sea Meeting the “Blue reflection in the water. Hundreds of son. After dinner, we had delicious pas Lady” pieces were sewn together by hand try with plum lekvár ( szilvás kalács ) and quilted by hand, by Anna’s hand. which did not call for butter (during fast Karolina Szabo no eggs or butter were served). The nut roll with raisins ( diós beigli ) was served Due to her interest in blue dyeing, our Anna also designed a quilt, a the next day after a Christmas Day feast Webmaster flew to Houston to meet a “Hungarian Jewel”, which was made out of 66 squares, with the authentic of pork and all the usual trimmings. mistress of the art, Anna Dolányi, who images of a Kalotaszeg fireplace had entered several of her own pieces When we were allowed to move back to (cserép kályha ) tiles. Fifty “ foltvarró” in a prestigious quilting exhibit. Here Hungary following the 1956 Hungarian quilters worked on it to get it ready for Uprising against the Soviet occupation is the report of her experience. the exhibit. Following Houston, the and the Communist regime, life was a bit My trip was uneventful, other than quilts will be shown in Chicago and easier: there was more food, there were Portland, ME and other cities in the more Christmas presents, but the cus flying from NYC in a pouring rain, and U.S. The piece is made with a tradi toms were the same. I was already a in three hours I was in sunny Houston, teenager, so naturally no one had to TX. Arriving late in the afternoon, I tional French technique called hide from me who decorated the Christ didn’t see much of the city. Even my boutis. Double white cotton material mas tree, and who brought the pre early evening walk around downtown is used. After the design is stitched in sents... The church services were beau wasn’t exciting – it was just like other the double fabric, a special needle is tiful, uplifting, and we thanked God for city centers, deserted in the evenings used to pull a thread or strips of cloth being reunited with our family that had (not counting New York, of between the two fabrics to stuff the been split due to the war and the post design, which makes it look three di war change of borders… course!) But the purpose of my trip wasn’t sightseeing. I was to meet the mensional. Maria Szaplonczay Schweikert was born “Blue Lady”, Anna Dolányi, and see into a Byzantine rite family in Kárpátalja the quilt exhibit. This would be the Ms. Dolányi founded the “Magyar Folt which, after 20 years of Czechoslovak first time I met her, although we ex varró Céh ” (the Hungarian Quilting rule, had once again become part of changed e mails for years. Anna is a Guild) 25 years ago; for this she re Hungary at the time. In 1944, Kárpátalja quilt maker, and she was invited to the ceived the Jewel Pearce Patterson was occupied by Soviet troops, and her 40 th Ruby Quilt Exhibit at the George Scholarship Award . The Céh has 800 father spent eleven years in the Gulag R. Brown Convention Center. She is members currently; in Hungary the (series of forced hard labor camps) be number of quilters is around 2 3,000. cause he was an officer in the Hungarian called a “Blue Lady”, for in many of her quilts she uses the special blue Anna, together with 21 other award army. (He was returned to Hungary at winning quilters, was invited to this the end of 1955.) dyed fabric, made only in Hun year’s exhibit to honor Jewel Pearce gary. (See September 2012 issue of In 1945, Kárpátalja was annexed to the www.magyarnews.org about blue Patterson*. Some of the quilts were Soviet Union. Maria thus attended Rus dye.) donated for sale; the proceeds were to sian schools, and learned perfect Rus be donated to the ALS (Lou Gerhig sian. After teaching that language in We stayed at the same hotel, and I Disease) Foundation. Minneapolis area colleges for 36 years met her there Saturday evening. The (24 of them at the University of Minne next day, we walked over to the Con sota), and interpreting for almost 30 years for various official delegations at vention Center to view the ex international conferences, Maria has just hibit. Even someone who doesn’t care retired. At this writing, she and her hus for quilting would have been amazed band are moving from Minnesota to Wis at what was shown there. Hundreds consin. and hundreds, large, small, colorful, red and white (ruby anniversary!), blue and white, brown, orange, green, animals, flowers, traditional blocks, you name it – was on display. Anna had shipped two quilts to the exhibit. One was her own creation, titled “Ocean”. It is made out of mostly blues, but other color fabric also was used. Some pieces have a wavy design, which makes it look like water. Some look like metallic gold, Details of the “Hungarian Jewel” I can’t leave out the “Field of Stars” quilts. An American astronaut, Karen Nyberg, who was in space for five months, made a piece in space. After returning to Earth, she and NASA started a Star Block Challenge. Quilters were invited to make a 9.5” X 9.5” quilt square, with any shape or color as long as it included stars. Thousands of pieces came in and were sewn together and it is dis played at the Convention Center this fall. At the end of the day, with aching feet, we sat down and waited for the raffle result. The quilt that was the first prize (which neither of us won, by the way), had been made by three U.S. quilters in white and blue, and was called “Together”. For the blues, the ladies used the Hungarian blue dye (kékfestı ) fabric. I would have preferred more blue than white, but it was still a masterpiece. Of course we took some time to walk downtown Houston. We did some shopping, and dining. This four day trip was amazing. I made a friend for life, and memories for life, and an urge to make my own quilt “ Kicsiny falum ” (My Little Vil lage) that I have been planning for a long time (pieces have been cut for 10 years). I am ever so thankful to Anna, and to my family who made this trip possible for me. *(Jewel Pearce Patterson, an influen tial quilting teacher and designer, who co founded the International Quilt Association , died on her birth day, on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2002. She was 92.) Karolina Szabo is Webmaster of Mag yar News Online, and proud grand Photos: Convention center, Playing dogs quilt, Anna Dolanyi mother of two young girls . with the "Ocean" quilt, Field of Stars quilt, Ruby Jubilee, Detail of the “Hungarian Jewel” quilt Curious at Christmas Kodály Zoltán Elekes Attila Olga Vallay Szokolay th A film covers the shining celestial blue, Although the fanfares of his 125 “birthday” had sounded only frost creaks, perhaps the sun has died, a few years ago, we feel it is appropriate to celebrate the but inside there’s kalács warmth and resin smell of pine, great Hungarian ethnomusicologist, pedagogue and com tinkling of bells and old time peace. poser, Kodály Zoltán, any time, but especially in December, the month he was born. Should at the door of this happily song filled, present opening little family now Great minds are typically ahead of their times, misunder a wandering carpenter knock, stood by the general public. The ears of 20 th century mid shaking the hoarfrost from his beard, dle class audiences, used to 19 th century melodic Italian asking advice: which way, how to travel? operas, catchy operettas, waltzes and the Strauss fam his ancient Ford coughing in the snow, ily’s easy to listen to music, needed a long time to get and in it a young, Madonna faced wife, accustomed to the unfamiliar keys of ancient folk music who still carries her child in her belly – where Kodály’s creative genius was rooted. Commonly, and would not say a word, but would look in your eyes – Gipsy fare was believed to be “folk music”; however, most of it was “manufactured” by contemporary pop compos would you let them into your garage? ers. Csárdás songs with their fresh tempo usually had lyrics praising army life, wine and women, while the sor rowful slow tunes ( hallgató ) expressed laments of the for lorn. They were easy to learn and to sing along with the roaming Gypsy fiddler at taverns and restaurants. In the midst of this came someone fascinated by real an cient folk music that had been preserved by peasant tra dition in the small villages of historic Hungary. The melo dies were not in the Western world’s usual keys of major and minor. Seemingly esoteric keys of Dór, Frig, Lid, Mikszolid that do not conclude in the traditional “Do” (as in “Doe, a deer, a female deer…”) but leave you wonder Karácsonyi kíváncsiság ing. We could hear a fine example of that in The English Patient . In one scene the protagonist, Almásy, standing Elekes Attila by the window listens to a record of an old folk song. His English paramour asks what it is: “Arabic?” “No”, he Hályog borult a fénylı égi kékre, csak fagy recseg, talán meghalt a Nap, says, “It’s an ancient Hungarian tune. My Dajka (nanny) de bent kalács meleg és gyantaszag used to sing it to me and I recorded it later.” (The scene és csengetyőszó van és régi béke. can be enjoyed on YouTube, the song is called “Szerelem”.) Ha most erre a boldogan dalos, ajándékokat bontó kis családra Kodály Zoltán was born in Kecskemét on December 16, rázörgetne egy vándor asztalos, 1882, to Kodály Frigyes and Paula (née Jalovetzky). His szakálláról a zuzmarát lerázva, father was a railroad official and his position necessitated talán tanácsért: merre, mint utazzon? the family’s moving first to Galánta (now Galanta, Slova a hóban ott köhögne ócska Fordja kia) in 1884, then to Nagyszombat (now Trnava, Slova s benne madonna arcu ifju asszony, kia), when Zoltán was 10 years old. There he studied aki gyermekét még hasában hordja – piano, violin and viola and sang in the choir of the cathe és nem is szólna, csak szemedbe nézne … dral. He also taught himself the cello to fill in when a member of his father’s domestic quartet did not show a garázsodba beeresztenéd e? up. Elekes Attila was born in 1927. Despite his youth, he He started composing early: at 15, the school orchestra saw action in World War II. Afterwards, he enrolled in played an overture of his. The following year he wrote a the College of Dramatic Arts in Budapest, but was ex Mass for chorus and orchestra. pelled from there and later from the Technical University as well because his father had been an army officer. The After high school, he enrolled at the University of Sci family was deported as “class aliens” to internal exile. ences in Budapest in 1900, studying Germanic and Hun After the 1956 Revolution, Elekes left Hungary with his garian literature. But his attraction to music lured him wife and settled in Milan, Italy where he taught Hungar over to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music two years ian language and literature. He died there of a heart con later. He received a diploma in Composition in 1904, in dition in 2001. Music Education in 1905. During this folk melodies in many of his composi veloped an interest in music education time he met fellow composer Bartók tions. The two of them published two for children. In some controversial Béla who became his close life long significant books on the topic of Ma articles, columns and essays he criti friend. The two students developed gyar folk music and the professional cized schools for teaching poor quality an interest in Hungarian folk music. level of those earned the authors the music and even that only in the secon Together they started field trips to the critics’ recognition as well as world dary grades. He pushed for better Hungarian countryside, collecting folk wide acceptance in the field of ethno teachers, better curriculum and more songs and recording them on phono musicology . class time devoted to music. Starting graph cylinders. in 1935, he launched a long term pro Kodály Zoltán’s real musical success ject to reform music instruction in After having obtained a PhD from the started in 1923 when his new work, schools by actively creating a new cur Academy of Music with a thesis titled Psalmus Hungaricus was performed riculum and new teaching meth “Strophic Construction of Hungarian at a concert celebrating the 50 th anni ods. Concurrently he also wrote new Folk Song” in 1906, Kodály went to versary of the unification of Buda and musical compositions for chil Paris to study. There he was greatly dren. The resulting publication of sev influenced by the music of Claude Dé eral highly influential books had a pro bussy and Brahms. found impact on musical education both at home and abroad. When he returned to Budapest in 1907, he started teaching at the Acad The Kodály Method is a crystallized emy and continued collecting folklore summarization of international re while composing string quartets, sona search in teaching children music. It tas for cello and piano and other makes them aware of the rhythm of works. These compositions were origi their own movements, such as walk nal in form and content and were a ing, running, marching, clapping, while perfect fusion of the Classical, late they listen to music or singing. It ap Romantic, Impressionist and Modern plied easy to sing pentatonic scales (a ist Western European style, with his five note scale), hand signs – not in depth knowledge and admiration of unlike sign language – for identifying Hungarian folk music. notes, and adopted the “movable do solfége” before introducing the staff With Bartók, he organized concerts and notation. Nowadays these tech with young musicians in 1910. In niques are widely used, improving in spite of widespread criticism of con Pest. The work was based on Hun tonation, rhythm skills, music literacy temporaneous critics, these concerts garian melodies.” Following this suc and the ability to sing complex mark the true birth of Hungarian mu cess, he traveled all over Europe to parts. Remarkably, the Kodály sic. For both composers, folk song conduct performances of this master Method has been shown to improve arrangements became a refined piece. performance in other academic areas art. Many songs faithfully set a tradi outside of music, such as perceptual tional tune to a simple accompani One of his early, most successful and functioning, concept formation, motor ment, while more elaborate works best known works, a folk based op skills as well as reading and math! blend native elements with advanced era, Háry János, was premiered at the contemporary idioms. Hungarian State Opera in 1926. Patri Most of his compositions originated in otism was on the rise after Trianon his love and research of folk songs. In this period, Kodály married the tal and the end of the Austro Hungarian ented musician Gruber Emma (née monarchy, thus audiences welcomed In his young years, between 1905 and Schlesinger, later Sándor) who was Magyar topics and heroes. The opera 1920, he wrote mostly instrumental close to 20 years his senior, yet their was also performed in some Euro and chamber music such as String marriage lasted until her death almost pean countries but, for some reason, Quartets, Sonatas, Duos, Trios. Or half a century later. not in others. chestral compositions like the Háry János Suite , Dances of Marosszék, Kodály and Bartók’s works, de This prompted Kodály to extract an Dances of Galánta,Concerto for Or emphasizing European musical cul orchestral suite from the opera, nota chestra and the Peacock Variations ture and glorifying Hungarian musical bly including the cimbalom , a tradi (Felszállott a páva ) were products of traditions, were not immediately ac tional Hungarian version of the ham the 1930’s. cepted by the establishment. Folk mer dulcimer. The work became a music was branded as “unrefined” and popular piece in the classic repertoire His operas: Háry János and the Tran “uncultured”. worldwide. sylvanian Spinning Room ( Székely fonó ) were produced in 1926 and Still, the unfriendly reception did not While his compositions were gaining 1932, respectively. Among his choral stop Kodály from incorporating actual acceptance and success, Kodály de orchestral works, the MissaBrevis (1942 44) and the Budavár Te Deum Christ replaced the pagan festival. (1936) enjoy significant recognition. Christmas Among the Pre- Christian Hungarians So when you wish someone “ Boldog karácsonyi ünnepeket! ”, you are harking back some 1,200 years to an Erika Papp Faber ancient Hungarian practice! It is amazing what an unexpected Erika Papp Faber is Editor of Ma ancient folk custom lies behind a gyar News Online. simple, common greeting! The winter solstice was among the most important holidays for pre Christian Hungarians. December 21 st marked the peak of darkness, when the shortest day of the year was fol lowed by the longest night. Thus for them, the day marked a turning to wards light, pointing towards the re After 48 years of the most harmoni newal of spring. ous marriage, in November 1958, Kodály’s first wife, Emma, passed The ancient Hungarians brought with away. Unable to handle loneliness, them their “sun birds” " kerecsen the ageless septuagenarian remar sólyom " (“saker falcons”) and me ried. This time he turned the wheels dieval inquisition records testify that it of time in the other direction and wed was on this holiday that they were his 19 year old student, Péczely blessed by the shamans and then Sarolta, who remained his March flown for the first time. This was December companion until his death called the “ kerecsen (or karacson ) on March 6, 1967 in Budapest. festival” and it was outlawed when Kodály believed that music belonged Christianity was adopted at the time to everyone. All through his career, of our first king, St. Stephen. he worked extensively to bring music to the people, starting with music But it is not that easy to exterminate education in schools. He introduced long rooted beliefs, and the name of a method of sight singing, based on the festival continued to be applied folk songs. It became a huge suc when observance of the birth of cess and became popular even out side of Hungary. His legacy led to vast improvements in musical instruc tion throughout the world to the pre sent day. Along with Bartók, he pioneered the integration of folk music and elevated the international status of Hungarian music through dances and folk songs, thus leaving an indelible im print on the musical world in general, and on Magyar music in particular. From Hungary, to the whole world, with love! Olga Vallay Szokolay is an architect and Professor Emerita of Norwalk Community College, CT after three decades of teaching. She is a mem ber of the Editorial Board of Magyar News Online. Disznóölés: ran outside. By that time a big stack My Father was very good at cutting of straw was burning, under that was up the pigs. He carved out the ham from Pig to Pork the pig. My Father turned it left, neatly. He knew what part was good Karolina Szabo right, legs up in the air, until all the for what: some for kolbász meat, bristles were singed off. some went in the big pot for boiling The killing of the family pig is still an that was for a hurka . He sliced the important winter event. Karolina re Godfather had no children, but he bacon into slabs, of some he pulled calls for us the whole process as she loved us tremendously, especially to off the skin. That bacon would be cut remembers it from her child tease us. He pulled off the pigs’ up and fried to make lard, the other hood. The photos are recent, taken hoofs and tossed them to us saying – would be salted and smoked. The this year at Nemesgörzsöny, Vesz here is a warm ring for you. We of skin was boiled and used for hurka or prém megye. course were happy to put them on headcheese. the tip of our fingers because by that Preparations went on for days at our time we were freezing, since the pigs My sweet Mother was working in the house. My Father was getting ready were always slaughtered on the cold kitchen. She was getting the break all he needed for a big day, the day est day of the winter. fast ready, dinsztelt máj (sautéed he slaughtered the pigs. He sharp liver and pork) with a pickle and ened the knives, got straw for singe Schools didn’t close in honor of the freshly made homemade bread. The ing the pig’s bristles. Mother was pigs; we had to go to school. By the food, whisky and the warmth felt washing the big pots and pans which time we got home, most of the work good to the men, but more work still were only used for that occasion. My was done, especially the hard part had to be done. For my family, my brother brought down from the attic and the outside work. Dad slaughtered two pigs that took a the willow teknı (tub). We had many long time. of those; the old gypsy who spent Lots of things had happened in be many a winter in our barns carved tween. After the singeing was done, Soon the work was done outside, and them. He made many different sizes they washed and scraped the pig's they came inside in the kitchen. My for my parents in lieu of rent: giant skin and washed it again with boiling Father was grinding the meat for the ones held the bran for the animals, water, until my Father saw that it was kolbász , Godfather was cutting up the others were for mixing the kolbász clean enough. Then the animals were bacon for lard. By the time we got and hurka meat, others for salting the moved onto a big, strong table. That home from school, they were all in pork. Mother also got one for knead is where my Father did all the cut side. My Mother just took the ing bread, smaller ones for washing ting. He was a butcher for that day, pecsenye (cutlets) out of the oven clothes, a tiny one for bathing the and he was very good at it. So much and we were ready to have lunch. little ones. She also got a small one so, that many of the neighbors and After lunch my Father was ready to that we called melence to make the my uncles asked him to help them make the kolbász . He mixed just the kalács dough. out when it was their turn to kill a right amount of spices which smelled pig. absolutely wonderful! My Father had We kids also had a chore to do. We the old fashioned kolbász stuffer: a cleaned the garlic. Neither of us He cut up the belly, took out the in metal tube with a narrow end. He wanted or liked to do that. Our hands side. The intestines and stomach stuffed the meat in the tube and, smelled of garlic for days; and be went to the women. They cleaned with a wooden cylinder, pushed the cause we had to do it with our hands, them, turned inside out, washed meat into the casing that my Godfa it stung under our nails, but we had them, scraped them, and scrubbed ther put on the narrow end. One of to do that, because we were good for them until they were squeaky us kids was needed at this point. The nothing else. clean. At that time one couldn’t pur one who was picked had to stand chase casing, it had to be done that next to the filled casing, and if there Slaughtering a pig was a big day in way. was any air in it she had to stab it our house. My Godfather stayed for with the needle to let the air out. My the whole day to help my Father, and Father removed the liver, lungs, and Father hung the kolbász on a rod for my Godmother came too, to help my other organs. He cut a piece of meat overnight to dry it a bit. Mother. My Father asked Godfather too, and handed it to my mother. In and some of the men in the neighbor between, they couldn’t forget the In the meantime, Mom was making hood to hold the pig down. We were barack pálinka! In the cold weather, the soup , tóros káposzta . She also woken up 6 o’clock in the morning by something had to warm the body boiled the stuff for the hurka and the squealing of the pig. We stuck from the inside. headcheese, and she sautéed the our heads under the pillow, and when onions and boiled the rice. We had it was quiet, we got dressed fast and a very festive closing, my Dad’s brothers and their families came over for dinner. That was a tradi tion in our family. But the work wasn’t done yet. My Dad and Godfather were stuffing the hurka. A kid was needed for that job too, to tie the ends of the stuffed cas ings. There were not too many volunteers, the day was getting late and we were tired. God mother was washing the dishes; my Mother was putting them away. My Grandparents were older and they were tired too, soon they were leaving. We chil dren washed up and went to bed. My parents were still working; my Father was putting salt on the ham, bacon and some meat that he would smoke for later consumption. (No one had freez ers at that time.) Finally, my parents went to bed too, to rest some before continu ing the next day. Next day came soon enough. Mother heated up wa ter to wash all the greasy pots and pans. Godmother was there again. She was frying the ba con. I was glad there was school that day. I didn’t like the smell of fry Captions: singeing the pig, dad teaching his son how to do it, help arrives: uncle and ing bacon. I even stopped at my girl nephew, old fashioned hurka stuffer, adding spice to the hurka meat, sausage friend Piroska’s house to be sure all (kolbász), hurka was done by the time I got home. My Mother packed some kóstoló (samples) of kolbász, hurka and For us children it was al tepertı for my uncles. She asked me most like a holiday. Even in to deliver that, I guess she thought my older age I remember she could trust me. how the day went, I still can smell the aroma of the This day was almost over too; my Fa spices in my nostrils, and I ther lit the fire in the smokehouse, the am thinking of my parents, kolbász was already there, and in two my hardworking Father who weeks the ham and s zalonna (bacon) taught us to be honest would be hanging there. and respectful, and Éde sanyám who taught us to My parents had a lot of work these love. two days; but the meat, kolbász and The willow tekn ı (tub) lard were secured for the family for a year. Hungarian ing room overheard them talking Traditionally this was the only way Hungarian, he said he was from Szaloncukor szaloncukor was made. Covering the Békásmegyer and they were served candy with chocolate has become popu- the best and largest portions of food (This recipe is courtesy of the Cleveland lar only in the last 20 to 30 years. The while another Magyar at the casino Hungarian Museum to Fıszakács Béla of plain or chocolate-covered pieces are bar treated them to their favorite the William Penn Life) wrapped first in rectangular pieces of drinks. white tissue paper – with frilled ends – and then colored foil is wrapped around They had a delightful time taking sev 2 ½ cups sugar 6 Tbsp milk the center of each piece, leaving the eral side trips – tours of islands and 6 Tbsp water (or coffee or orange juice) frilled edges exposed. Recipe yields towns on the way. Knowing that 2 ½ Tbsp unsalted butter about 30 to 35 pieces. those are typically pricier than the Flavoring or essences (raspberry, lemon, cruise itself, I asked them how they rum, vanilla, etc…) For chocolate version, add a level Tbsp could afford the attractions. They of cocoa powder and a half tsp of vanilla answered that they had some prefer Melted chocolate to cover candy pieces – along with the butter. ential treatment by the head of the for best results, use the kind especially tour organization who was from Sep made for candy-making (optional) siszentgyörgy, Transylvania, and his Combine the sugar, milk, and water in sister still lives at nearby Szentivány, ceramic pot over the stove burner. Bring where Miklós’s mother was born and to a boil over medium high heat, stirring raised. slowly. When it begins to boil, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer without It’s a small world, indeed, on land or stirring for 3 minutes. Pour into a heat- Kicsi a világ – sea when it comes to Hungarians… proof glass dish. (Don’t stir the pot – it It’s a Small World OVS will cause the sugar to crystallize!) Add the unsalted butter, and the desired fla- There are advantages to being Hun voring(s). Stir with wooden spoon until garian – and it’s not just that we mixture turns white and stiff. Pour the Magyar News Online speak (what we think is) a secret stiffened mixture onto a damp cotton language! napkin or kitchen towel and form into 242 Kings Hwy Cut-off rectangle. Let it stiffen a bit more, but Last February, Miklós and Zsuzsa Fairfield, CT 06824 before it becomes completely hard, cut www.magyarnews.org into small squares or rectangles with a Szokolay, visiting from Hungary, took a Caribbean cruise on one of the wet knife. (Rectangles are easier to Editor: Erika Papp Faber wrap.) Carnival Freedom ships with her relatives. When a waiter in the din Founder, Editor and Publisher Emeritus: Joseph F. Balogh
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Assistant Webmaster: Zsuzsa Lengyel Did you know … ... that some streetcars in Budapest are deco rated for Christmas? Every winter Budapest is covered in festive holi day decorations, and among the most striking are the city streetcars, several of which are cov ered in 30,000 or more bright, blinking, blue and white LED lights. Started on 2009, the festive tradition is a delight and, best of all, anyone with a regular ticket can ride the Christmas streetcar while enjoying the holiday spirit. There are 96 miles (155 km) of streetcar routes. Eva Wajda is a member of the Magyar News Online Editorial Board. For photographers, with long exposure photo, these streetcars transform into time traveling cosmic ves sels. On the Pest side of the city, the #2 streetcar runs alongside the Danube and this is the best way to see the Parliament building up close, and the panorama of Buda Castle across the river.