SMITHSONIAN and mandolin like instru FOLKLIFE FESTI- ments. Across the way pro vided a fascinating look at the VAL large variety of traditional Bob Wargo crafts being kept alive in Hun gary. It was here, for exam The first of two re ple, that we saw Sütı Levente, ports on the Hungar a master woodworker, carver ian Festival presented and painter, carrying on a by the Smithsonian in family tradition going back to Washington this past the 1700’s. We also saw peo July. The description ple from the shepherd culture and the pictures make of Karcag preparing halászlé you wish you had and gulyásleves in large pots been there over open fires, distinctive embroidery from Kalocsa and For the past 47 years, the Kalotaszeg, and leather work Smithsonian Museum, in the form of saddle making, through its Center for Folk patterned after a 12 th century life and Cultural Heritage, original. We were even has sponsored a festival treated to a demonstration of celebrating cultural tradi the karikásostor , a whip tions around the woven of leather strings which world. This year, in part crackles when used correctly. nership with the Balassi Institute of Budapest, the It was soon lunch time, so off featured country was Hun we went to the Budapest Bis gary. With “Hungarian tro, where we had csirke Heritage: Roots to Revival” paprikás , beef gulyás, and kol as its theme, the two week bász to choose from, and to festival included daily and Tokaj Tavern for beer or evening music and dance wine. From here we could performances, crafts and watch people next door in the cooking demonstrations, Dance Barn, learning to do storytelling and discussions Hungarian dances. of cultural issues. In the afternoon we listened On Friday, the day after th to traditional Hungarian music July 4 , my wife Carolyn played by a gypsy band, and and I took the metro train watched dance troupes from a into Washington, DC and variety of regions (Gyır, Szék, found our way to the Na Mezıség, Küküllımente) per tional Mall, where the fes form their unique dances tival was being held. We dressed in their colorful cos started our day at the Da tumes. We, again, went back nubia Stage, where we to the crafts area, where we listened to students from saw examples of blue dyeing, the Liszt Music Academy practiced by fewer than 10 play traditional folk music th families in Hungary today; on 18 century zithers, From top left: dance demonstration; felt hats; leather working; blue dyeing; Czefernekné Tenk Bernadett, hurdy gurdys, bagpipes zither crafter; Bob and Carolyn at candle making table; wood carver; kopjafa (carved grave marker). weaving horsehair into ornamental jew There were cooking demonstrations go elry; craftsmen making wicker baskets; The Mall was quite crowded with visitors ing on – one which I briefly watched and how a variety of felt hats are made, because of the exceptional weather, af was a woman making some sort of bis traditionally an indicator of occupation ter several rainy days. Unfortunately the cuits – I was amused by the ingredients and social status. rain left muddy places and puddles, so – the requisite 2 cups of sour Our day ended back at the Danubia navigating was sometimes a bit cream!!! Another group was butchering Stage, where we were treated to a fash tricky. The walk was worth it, for there lamb (they called it mutton) pieces to ion show of traditional and modern dress were so many interesting demonstra roast on an outdoor fire pit which was wear, featuring the unique embroidery tions, performances, smells, sounds and being heated. of Kalocsa and Kalotaszeg. individual exhibits showcasing much off Hungary’s history, culture and cui Children had a special area with old sim For anyone with a Hungarian back sine. The Smithsonian did their research ple toys made of wood to play with – ground (like Carolyn and me) this was a well, and found a wealth of authentic stilts, ring games, wooden cars, girls had great way to get re acquainted with experiences to present. an opportunity to get their hair braided one’s cultural heritage. For anyone else with bright silk ribbons intertwined. I it was a valuable opportunity to learn I was fortunate to watch folk dance per loved seeing many vizslas and pulis ac about a vibrant society that has stayed formance tracing the history of Hungar companying their owners as they in touch with its most important roots. ian dance. A small quartet of string mu browsed the exhibits. Both dogs are sicians provided music for the dancers, somewhat rare, and not often seen in Bob Wargo was born and raised in Fair who were young, fresh faced, and beau Washington DC. field, CT. He graduated from the Univer tifully costumed. Several couples Poised right beside the Metro station on sity of Bridgeport, and was a member of danced parts of folk dances, while smil the Mall was a giant puli made of the Calvin United Church of Christ. A ing and seeming to enjoy the experi wooden planks. It was whimsical, im teacher and cabinet business owner, he ence. They were prompted and nar mediately identifiable, and quite a back and his wife, the former Carolyn Papay rated by the leader of the small orches drop for group photos. There were also of Bridgeport, retired and is now living in tra, who directed them in Hungar a few structures housing the perform Bristol, VA. ian. The “slap” dancing was particularly ances that appeared to be built on loca lively. The colorful music and clothing tion, and a few were quite beautiful with Another View of the were a delight. There were other dance some hand carving. performances going on in several places Smithsonian Folk Festival throughout the day. It made me won The Smithsonian did a terrific job of as Claudette Pall Warner der where these young folks were learn sembling craftsmen, musicians, and ing to do these routines today. cooks, many from rural areas of Hun Everyone seems to have enjoyed gary, to showcase the culture of the the Smithsonian’s Festival in Many crafts were exhibited and demon Magyars. It appears that traditional Washington, especially teachers strated – many of which I did not recog knowledge of old traditions has been of Hungarian extraction! nize, but embroidery, basket making, transferred to a new generation. There felt hat making, furniture paint is a rich standard of dance, music, crafts ing and flower head wreath and cooking that represents a rich folk making were all underway, Hungarian culture that is very alive and mostly by elder women in full vital today. Hungarian costume. All spoke fluent (I suppose) Hungarian to For this half Hungarian, it was a rich one another, and also to some experience, eliciting family memo in the audience. It was wonder ries. While I did not understand much ful to hear so much Hungarian of the language being spoken, it re spoken, even though I did not minded me of my family, and times to understand a word – other than gether. It made me remember a trip to “thank you”! the beautiful city of Budapest, and the glorious sights there. I felt comfortable There was a large food tent, on the Mall that Saturday, almost as if I with a long line, serving Hun was with a larger, extended family. It garian food – chicken p aprikás , duck, was a bit of a homecoming, in my own goulash etc. Also a “beverage” tent backyard. Bravo to the Smithsonian for The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival with Hungarian wines – Tokaj and Bi presenting a terrific view of my heritage! on the Mall in Washington DC featured kavér, and several other wines, and an all things Hungarian exhibit this beers being served. It was sort of an Claudette Pall Warner, a librarian, grew year. The exhibition was very inclusive “Oktoberfest” atmosphere. Unfortu up in Trumbull, CT, and is the cousin of and well done. I attended for a few nately, that tent was very muddy after Claudia Margitay Balogh. She lives in hours on a beautiful, sunny, late June the rain and almost impassable. Virginia with her husband Bill, and has day. two grown children. Smithsonian Folk Festival
Photos by Claudette Pall Warners
St. Emery’s Ladies’ Tea clothes we wore in those long ago would design and sew a dress or gown years. Karen explained that teenage girls from the material in the style of the era and Fashion Show look for some of these for their proms. the fabric came from. In her boutique Karolina Szabo Kathy Sherwood, President of the Parish you can find clothing and accessories for Advisory Council, reported that “Karen every occasion. You can find wedding, The tea and cucumber sand has been selling vintage articles for ten evening and prom dresses, blouses, wiches took us back into the years now and shared many stories skirts, lingerie and coats. past, introducing a nostalgic trip about acquiring the clothing, jewelry and The fashions were modeled by St. Emery into the fashion world of yester accessories. (She) talked about various parishioners, friends and family mem year. designers and the impact they had on bers. More people were able to attend fashions.” now that there is handicapped accessi The accessories were just as unique as bility to the Hall. the dresses: shoes, hats, purses, neck It was a fun afternoon, and we all left laces and earrings. Some earrings were reminiscing about bygone years. For made out of trimmings that were sal your own nostalgia trip, visit vintagevir vaged from clothing that wasn’t in a tuosa.com online or stop by: good enough shape to save, but the trimmings were. Vintage Virtuosa Karen had a helper there, her dress 242 Post Road East maker. When Karen found a lovely, old Westport, CT 06880 fabric that was sitting in someone’s shelf Phone: 203 349 5247 in a closet for years, her dressmaker
My favorite One sweltering Sunday afternoon in June it felt good to cool off at St. Em ery’s Hall. Thanks to the ladies of the congregation, who organized a Tea Party. Shortly after one o’clock, a selec tion of tea and wonderfully arraigned English tea sandwiches: cucumber, ham salad, chicken salad, liver pate, etc. were served. After a short rest, we also enjoyed pastries and cookies. The ladies must have worked hard to prepare all the goodies for the party and set up a room so lovely. The tea party was fol lowed by a fashion show. Not just any kind of fashion show. Karen Ellman, owner of Vintage Virtuosa of Westport, a vintage clothing store, introduced her collection of clothing from 1920’s to 1990’s. Some were abso lutely glamorous, some were funny, but mostly it was very enjoyable to see The guests and the models
A Good Pick – Salami, who just passed away this spring in took it with him abroad and never re Westchester, NY. None of Jenı’s off leased it to anyone. Pick Salami has That Is spring participated in the busi never again been the same as remem ness. Mimi’s surviving daughter, Maya bered by the precious few remaining who Olga Vállay Szokolay Kara, an attorney in Saipan, (Mariana had enjoyed it over 65 years ago. Some Islands) – could hardly be more detached testimonies claim the current version In October, 2012, on the list of 50 Hun from the old family business. manufactured at Szeged today is better garian consumer brands, the top three than the original, others maintain it is candidates were Herendi (porcelain) A rumor used to be circulated that Pick inferior. But subjective judgment aside, which garnered 98.35 points, Pick Salami was made of donkey meat. the very changes necessitated by the de (salami) which collected 98.21 points and velopment of manufacturing technology Gundel (restaurant) which finished with This, according to the original recipe, was are bound to result in some variation in actually true. However, after a while the bouquet. there were not enough donkeys left to slaughter in Hungary. Thus a new solu The current packaging is fancier, more tion had to be found and donkey meat decorated than the traditional version. was replaced with some similar tasting The presently offered product is pack elder sow meat, namely a mixture of lean aged like a “szaloncukor ” (traditional pork and fatty pork belly, spiced accord Hungarian Christmas candy) as opposed ing to a secret recipe. The mixture is to the plain rounded end of yore, with a then filled into casings and cured by cold string attached to hang it in the pantry. smoking over beech wood. At the end, Anyway: Bon appétit – Jó étvágyat ! the salami becomes covered with a coat of “noble mold” that forms during drying Olga Vállay Szokolay is an architect and and maturation and becomes one of the Professor Emerita of Norwalk Community 95.38 points. main characteristics of Pick Salami. Mold College, after three decades of teach One of the best known and liked food fungi need a chilly temperature and suit ing. She is a member of the Editorial products of Hungary worldwide is Pick able humidity to settle down. Therefore, Board of Magyar News Online. Winter Salami. The Pick Museum in the factories were established at river Szeged is a frequented tourist attraction. sides, such as the original Pick Sa lami factory at the Tisza River. The Pick factory is located in Szeged, While other hard salamis are made Hungary, established by Mark Pick , a with mostly beef and some pork, master butcher of Jewish origin, in only pork from locally raised Hun 1869. He started the business small and garian pigs, mangalicas , is used to developed and perfected it step by maintain the consistent quality and step. To be able to make salami in larger aroma of Pick Salami. (See the quantities, he brought in workers from March 2010 issue of Magyar News Italy in 1883. Thus, two years later, he Online for "Mangalica the pig was able to produce on a larger with the perm". scale. After his death in 1892, his widow and her brother managed the operation. The local features give significant qualities, harmonic smells and Mark’s eldest son, Jenı , born in 1881, unique taste to Pick Salami. The joined them in 1906, starting a new era winter salami of Szeged has become in the factory’s history. He bought the known world wide. It is due to origi neighboring bankrupt “Tian” salami fac nal basic material, traditional tech tory, making the entire real estate near nology, climate conditions, the pres the Tisza River the Pick family’s prop ence of mold fungi and preserved erty. Jenı had a great talent for busi knowledge. ness, recognized the need for modern tools as well as for advertising. In the th With the introduction of modern first decades of the 20 century, salami technology at the end of the 50’s, a became the main product of the enter long shelf life could be guaran prise. Between the two world wars, the teed. After this, the winter salami Pick factory became the most significant preserved its seasonal character plant of the Hungarian food industry and only in name. The Pick Salami and in the Pick Factory Pick Salami became a global brand. Jenı Pick ran the factory on his own from 1934 According to a family source, just before until its nationalization in 1948. He had nationalization, the manager at the time one son, Thomas, and two daughters: had saved the original (pre war) recipe, Lotte, residing in New York City, and Mimi Kemendollár et al. – may have been derived from the German The Bakony Mountain is covered with “Hochland”, or “highland”, or from forests. Towns and farmland were Things Aren’t Always “Aglonth”, an ancient version of the name scarce, but it was well suited for hunt What They Seem! “Agnes”. But in no way did it come from ing. That was the reason why Prince the English “Oakland”, as I had surmised. EPF Géza (fejedelem) and King Stephen I The moral of the story? As intriguing as claimed it, and it became part of the
such speculation may be, trying to relate kingdom. As the old ditty says, “Things Hungarian place names to English names or The first written mention of the city of aren’t always what they seem – words is merely a flight of fancy – entertain- Zirc is in the Képes Krónika ( Chronicon skim milk masquerades as cream”. ing perhaps, but with no basis in fact! pictum 1360) , as it describes how King This was not a case of Pity! “masquerading”, but of my jumping András was captured in December 1060, to the wrong conclusions. And hop- and was moved to his house in Zirc, ing I was right! where he died. Looking at a map of Hungary recently, my “ – Az András királlyal levı magyarok – eyes caught the name of a settlement in Zala mikor látták, hogy Béla herceg gyızött – County called Kemendollár. My immediate elhagyták András királyt, és átálltak Béla reaction was that it may have something to herceghez. András király Teutonia felé do with our American currency, and in a futott, de nem menekülhetett meg: a further flight of fancy, considered that it musini kapunál ugyanis elfogták, és might even refer to “kemény dollár”. mivel fogságában nem törıdtek vele, a Well, I couldn’t have been more off Bocon erdejében levı Scirc nevő lakában base! Instead of referring to our dollar, the meghalt. Szent Ányos hitvalló monos name of the town came about from the join- torában temették el, amelyet maga a ing of two settlements, Kemend and Ollár, in király építetett Tihonban, a Balaton tava 1895. mellett.”
Kemend was first mentioned in 1328, and its “When the Hungarians who were with fortress called Castrum Kemend in Latin, Church of Kemendollár was first documented in 1370, during the King Andrew saw that Prince Béla had reign of King Károly Róbert. Ollár, origi- won, they left King Andrew and joined nally the property of nobility, was already Snapshots: Zirc Prince Béla. King Andrew ran towards mentioned in 1292. Both settlements were Teutonia (Germany), but he could not Karolina Szabó escape; he was captured at the Musin destroyed by the Turks. In the heart of the Bakony Moun Gate, and since they did not concern After the Turkish occupation, ownership of tains, half way between Gyır and themselves with him, he died in his the area went over to the Festetics fam- Lake Balaton, where the Cuha house called Scirc in the Bocon woods ily. The fortress lost its importance, and its patak (creek) bubbles out of the (Bakony). He was buried in the monas stones were used for the construction of the earth, sits this wonderful old tery of St. Aignan, which the king him manor house and its barns and outbuildings, town of Zirc. self had built in Tihon (Tihany) near as well as a chapel. Lake Balaton.” In 1890, the Ukk-Csáktornya branch of the In 1182, King Béla III founded the Cis railroad was completed, giving a great boost tercian monastery in Zirc. In the early to the development of the area. But the same years, the abbey most likely had a railroad also helped to bring down the popu- th French abbot. The life of the Cistercians lation in the mid-20 century, helping people continued until the Turkish invasion in to move to the industrialized city of Zalae- 1526. At that time, the area became gerszeg, which provided much-needed jobs. almost totally depopulated, and most of So much for Kemendollár! the monasteries in Hungary perished. Similarly teasing were several other place names, located in Transylvania: Jám in It was only in 1699, when the king Krassó-Szörény County, near Oravicabánya, gifted his possession in the Bakony area first mentioned in a document in 1221; Ba- to the abbot of Heinrichau, that mission con Creek (also the towns of Kisbacon and aries from Prussia rebuilt the Abbey, and Nagybacon), in Háromszék County, and the area became an intellectual and eco Oklánd, south of Székelyudvarhely, in Ud- nomic center known throughout Europe. varhely County. After another century or so, when the Only in the case of Oklánd did I find any- Prussian king dissolved the Silesian ab thing about the derivation of the name: It bey, the Abbey of Zirc became inde was first recorded in 1546, as Akland. That The Abbey’s Seal pendent, and the king of Hungary The Abbey; the Abbey and museum; altar; pulpit; arboretum; refugee Monks in Rome (Cistercian General House, 1957). From left: Fr. Farkasfalvy Dénes, Br. Pollner Sempronianus, Fr. Kovács Máté, Fr. Kereszty Rókus, Fr. Kis Horváth Paszkál, Fr. Mensáros Aurél, Fr. Leloczky Gyula, and Br.Verbay Romualdó; village museum in Bakonybél. named Dréta Antal as abbot of Zirc in painted this many times more; one is in 1814. The monks took over teaching in the Nagy Templom in Pápa and the Seven Chieftains Tokány – many secondary schools in the area. The other in the Székesfehérvár Seminary. abbey supplied teachers for the gim The main altar was a gift of Dubinsky Hét vezér tokány názium of Székesfehérvár, Pécs, and István, Canon of Veszprém. After its later Baja. In 1912, they opened the completion, he said the first Mass there Serves 8 1 lb veal cubed secondary school in Buda. The Order in 1755. The designer of the pulpit is 1 lb pork cubed grew in numbers, and at the same time, unknown. It is the most admired adorn 1 lb sirloin of beef cubed the number of the Abbey’s buildings also ment of the church. 6 strips of bacon increased. The six story high Red Tower was built 2 Tablespoons lard between 1841 and 1854. From it, one 1 small onion chopped After World War II, when the Russians can see a picturesque view of the 1 teaspoon flour took over Hungary, more than 200 area. The middle of the building is 1 teaspoon salt monks lived at the Abbey. Many of where the Országos Széchenyi Könyvtár 1 teaspoon paprika them escaped the country, some to Wis Mőemlék Könyvtára (the Library of Green pepper sliced consin and Texas, USA. Monuments of the National Széchenyi Fresh tomato diced Library) is located. In the Library are ½ pint sour cream Soon, all the schools were confiscated the Schedel Világkrónika (Schedel’s by the Communist regime, the monas World Chronicle of 1493), Verbıczy’s Fry bacon, set aside. Add lard to dripping, tery and the buildings were taken over, Dekrétum (1571) and the 47 volume add onion and brown in fat. Add beef and and the monks were persecuted by the Flora Universalis (1830). simmer for half hour. Add small amount of government. About 40 monks were im water, if needed. Add pork, simmer for 20 prisoned and many were exiled. In On the lower level, one can see the ex minutes. Add veal and simmer for another 1950, the Abbey was dissolved and be hibit of the Bakony Mountain’s fauna and 20 minutes. When the meat is tender, add came a parish church; it was reestab flora in the Bakonyi Természettudományi paprika and salt. Add green pepper and tomato. lished only in 1989. Múzeum . Mix sour cream with flour (add milk if mix is too thick) and add a pinch of salt. Add The medieval Abbey was next to today’s Not too far from the medieval abbey, sour cream mixture to stew. Bring to boil. church to the east It was most likely once Béla III‘s game preserve, is now Serve with galuska , and sprinkle bacon bits built in the second half of the twelfth the Arboretum of Zirc. The fishpond on top. May be garnished with rings of century and finished in the first decade close to the entrance was made in 1421. green pepper. of the thirteenth century. Over the The Cuha creek winds around the years, the buildings were neglected, and park. More than 600 types of trees, Galuska by 1699, only some of the walls with shrubs and plants can be viewed here; 2 cups flour windows, and two small chapels were also the ruins of a 1,500 year old Roman 3 eggs still standing. Surprisingly, the cupolas road near the linden tree alley. 1 tsp salt were intact. The chapels were reno vated, and were used until the new Rákóczi Square and Kossuth Lajos Street Mix ingredients with wooden spoon, add church was built. are lined with romantic and baroque small amount of water to make sticky style mansions and houses. In one of dough. The old monastery walls were torn the baroque houses on Rákóczy Square, Bring water to boil in a large pot. Add 1 down, only one pillar was left, and one which belonged to Duhniczay István, tsp salt to water. stone, carved with the words: ezt az Canon of Veszprém, was born the fa Force dough into boiling water with a ga oltárt Imre magyar király alapította (“this mous linguist, Reguly Antal in 1819. luska maker (it can also be done by put ting dough on a chopping block, and over altar was set up by Hungarian King There are many more attractions to visit a boiling water cutting it with a knife and Imre”) . The stones of the cloister were near Zirc in the Bakony Mountains: the th dropping it in the water). Boil galuska till used for the new monastery; the 18 century castle in Akli puszta, the they rise to the surface. Lift them out with church’s stones were used for the new ruins of the twelfth century fortress of a strainer, rinse in cold water, drain and church. Nothing else was left of the old Csesznek, the medicinal bath of Ba put in hot lard or butter. Mix, serve with Abbey. konyszentlászló, and Bakonybél (King St. Stephen established the Benedictine or The new Abbey was built between 1727 der here in 1018). and 1732; upon its completion, the church and the two towers were built, More could be said of the Abbey and the which took 14 years. The frescoes of Library, but one must see it to totally the church are the work of Wegenmeis appreciate it. ter József; the main altar, the Assump tion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was Karolina Szabó is Webmaster of Magyar painted by Maulbertsch Antal. He News Online. The original article was published in the September 2002 issue of Magyar News. Some Cistercians, transplanted from Zirc, es tablished a prep school in Dallas. In addition, the local bishop asked them to assist him in setting up the University of Dallas within the same brand, may have dif Remember, besides the delicious taste, ferent shades or red or brown. Most of you get 50 times more Vitamin C from them look very dry and grainy. Some paprika than from lemon. Finally, don’t packages even emphasize the contents forget that not all paprika is Hungarian. as being “Hungarian Paprika ”, or go so This is Claudia Margitay Balogh cooking far as to say “Imported Hungarian Pa up a delicious chip for the Great Hun prika ”. Some show the Hungarian col garian Mosaic. ors, map, and use the word “Szeged”. And they may not be from Hungary at This was aired August 20 th , but the year all! is not indicated. During th thhe 1980’s Claudia and Paprika is grown and processed in many Joseph Balogh wrote, edited and countries of the world and its quality presented an informative radio series in varies according to the local circum the Bridgeport, Connecticut area as part stances. The best way to deal with of the weekly program featuring these discrepancies is to buy the pack Rózsika and László, very well known age with the original seal on it, or go to and respected Hungarian musicians. a reputable store or finally do your own The Hungarian Mosaic focused on a test. It is a very simple test. Take a variety of topics of interest to soft paper towel, sprinkle some paprika Hungarian Americans and we are on it, then rub it with your finger. A pleased to present another of the NOBLE SWEET paprika will make a nice, topics. red oily stain with very little sandy grain. If the result is hardly any color Kicsi a világ! and mostly grain, don’t even bother Paul Soos Paprika VI bringing it back to the store. Consider A few words should be said about the your loss as a tuition fee. There are times when “Kicsi a világ” and paprika in the kitchen. Most people know only the sweet and hot varieties. “Did you know” are much the same When you have a good quality paprika , thing. My wife and I were recently on the This is the easy way out. I am going to you should get the most out of it. It is New York State Thru way returning from list six different types or qualities: very important to use it the right Niagara Falls, Ontario. We were scanning The EXQUISITE DELICACY, with its deli way. The best is to dissolve the paprika radio channels when I thought I had cious flavor, nutrients and absolutely in warm fat. Usually, you should sauté heard Hungarian. Going back to channel free of any capsaicin should be the some chopped onion in lard or oil, and AM 530 from Brampton (Toronto), we dream spice of people on a strict diet. when it is ready, take it off the fire and were, indeed, listening to a Hungarian The DELICATESSEN type has a very let the fat lose its high tempera broadcast!!! strong coloring effect and goes well ture. After that, you should put the with sauces and cold dishes. The qual paprika in the pot. Mix it in, and then The call sign for this station is CIAO ity that is used mostly in Hungarian add the meat or water before putting it (Italian for “hello” and “good dishes is the well known NOBLE back on the burner. This order is very bye”). CIAO provides scheduled pro gramming in several languages through SWEET. If you want the paprika to be a important, because you need warm fat out the week. The Hungarian broadcast little pungent but still not hot, you to dissolve the paprika . In hot fat it is on Saturdays from 4 pm to 6 pm; you should look for the HALF SWEET. The would burn, turn brownish and taste variety we call ROSE is definitely a hot can listen on www.am530.ca . somewhat bitter. After it is dissolved, spice but it is far from the one that is you have to protect it from burn marked HOT. Discovering this radio station prompted ing. That is why you add ingredients me to Google Hungarians in Toronto. Did containing water. HOT paprika is not measured with a you know that according to the 2006 Ca nadian census, there are more than teaspoon or tablespoon; you sprinkle it Another question that may arise is how 53,000 people of Hungarian descent living very carefully, just as you do with black much paprika to put in your in this city (300,000 in all of Canada)? or white pepper. You could mix it with dish. Cooking is justly considered an There are also several Hungarian the NOBLE SWEET to make it more art, so it is really up to the chef. But as churches (different denominations), res pungent. HOT paprika does not have a rule of thumb, use approximately half taurants, and a variety of cultural activi the fiery red color, it is brownish. So is an ounce of NOBLE SWEET paprika for ties in the Toronto area. ROSE to a lesser degree. This is be every pound of meat. When you want cause they have less of the skin and to add a golden, orange red color to I am always amazed at what a small more of the ribs, or simply because your cooked chicken soup, skim off world this really is and with what I didn’t they are plants of a different variety. some hot fat, put it into a small cup or know. In the supermarket, the paprikas are saucer, mix in the paprika and pour it Paul Soos is Associate Webmaster of usually not as red as you expect them back into the soup. What sight to be Magyar News Online to be. Then the same quality, even hold! Correction! Erika Papp Faber I must make a confession: In the Sep tember 2009 issue of Magyar News Online, I erroneously attributed the Patrona Hungariae statue of Mary in St. Emery Church of Fairfield to the fa mous Hungarian sculptress Kovács Margit. Based on that statement, a similarly erroneous reference was made in the May 2013 issue in the arti cle dealing with the historic fresco in St. Emery Church. To set the record straight: The Patrona Hungariae statue in St. Emery Church is the work of Bertha de Hellebranth, who modeled it on Jo seph Cardinal Mindszenty’s mother, Borbála Kovács Mindszenty. Carroll Fencil, a long time Parishioner of St. Emery Parish, a Member of the St. Emery Parish Advisory Council, and So Author of the Connecticut State Regis ter of Historic Places nomination docu Patrona Hungariae by Bertha de Hellebranth ment for St. Emery’s Church, set me straight on this. He pointed out a pas statue of Our Lady of Hungary. The sage in Cardinal Mindszenty’s Mem figure of my mother had supplied the to set the record straight: The Pa- oirs : model for Our Lady: she was portrayed trona Hungariae statue in St. Em- as a simple village woman holding the ery Church is the work of Bertha “While I was still a parish priest in Child Jesus. May God bless the sculp de Hellebranth, who modeled it on Zalaegerszeg, a beautiful church had tor, Bertha Hellebrandt (sic!), and also Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty’s mother, been built in Fairfield, Connecticut, for the kind priests and those from whom Borbála Kovács Mindszenty. Hungarians who had left their native the idea had come. A nun from Hun land behind them. For the silver anni gary had taken a photograph of my I herewith offer my sincere apologies versary of this church, the Franciscans mother with her to the United States, for my blunder! from Transylvania, who supplied the and the statue was modeled on that.” priests for this church, set up in it a ======
Who was Bertha de Hellebranth? Erika Papp Faber Now that we know the name of the artist who created the Patrona Hungariae statue in Fairfield’s St. Emery Church, let us see who she was. She must have been a shy and retiring person, because very little information about her life is avail able. This is what I have been able to glean, mostly from an article by Patricia Fazekas (a former Curator of the Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation in New Brunswick, NJ) from the September 2010 issue of William Penn Life, the official publication of the William Penn Association of Pittsburgh, PA. Another very helpful source of information was Art Consultant Michael Szarvasy. Many thanks to both of them! Bertha de Hellebranth and her sister Elena were born into a cultured upper class family in Budapest, Bertha in 1899, Elena in 1897. Their father was a lawyer and their mother a student of Franz Liszt’s last living pupil. Both sisters showed artistic potential early, beginning to paint at four or five years of age. Their parents encouraged them, and had the means to send them to the best art schools of the time. They studied at the Academy of Fine Art in Budapest, at the Académie Julian and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, and painted portraits of European nobility. Elena and Bertha de Hellebranth ; Untitled tempera painting by Bertha de Hellebranth As Patricia Fazekas points out, “Growing up in a family of privilege, they seemed Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Pennsyl Fair, while Bertha exhibited a couple of to have unusual access to many illustri vania Academy of Fine Arts and most sculptures, one entitled “Sleeping Shep ous people.” So we should not be sur major museums and galleries in the US. herd”. prised to find among their subjects Bertha also had exhibits at the Metropoli members of high society, such as Count tan Museum of Art. Both Bertha and Bertha and Elena became American citi Andrássy Gyula, the Russian born Prin Elena were Fellows of the Royal Society zens in the 1940’s, but as Elena re cess Baby Galitzine, and Admiral Horthy of Art (London), and garnered numerous marked, “While we are Americans, the Miklós, the Regent. Later on, their sub prizes. Bertha was awarded First Prize Hungarian blood still boils through us.” jects included American heiress Gladys by the National Academy of the Ameri And Patricia Fazekas relates, “Following Vanderbilt (Countess László Széchenyi), can Water Color Society one year, and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the sis President Theodore Roosevelt’s grand the Grand Prize of the Audubon Soci ters organized relief efforts for Hungari daughter Paulina Longworth and former ety. She was one of the founders of the ans, sending much needed shipments of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. now defunct World League of Hungarian clothing and food back home.” Artists Abroad ( Külföldi Magyar Often, the sisters would paint the same Képzımővészek Világszövetsége ), and Elena settled in Atlantic City, NJ. Neither subject at the same time, offering the received a Gold Medal from the Cleve she nor Bertha married. We do know sitter a choice of portraits. Most often, land Árpád Akadémia in 1963. (Elena that Bertha died at age 81, in December the sitter wanted both renditions. also received the Akadémia’s gold medal of 1980. Elena outlived her by eight in 1965.) Their work is found in muse years, dying in February 1988, at age While Elena concentrated on working in ums and galleries too numerous to men 91. Much of their work from the 1920’s oil and watercolor, Bertha used gouache tion. through the 1940’s was donated by their and oil to achieve her effects. Elena sister in law in her will to the American gave lectures and workshops, was a The de Hellebranth sisters were devout Hungarian Foundation in 2001. Museum writer and also wrote popular and eccle Catholics, and this is evident in their exhibition records indicate “that they siastical music, while Bertha also went in many portraits of clerics and religious continued to paint, sculpt and show their for sculpture and handicrafts. subjects. Bertha’s religious sculptures work throughout the 1950’s and 60’s and include not only the Patrona Hungariae perhaps even longer,” wrote Patricia From the mid thirties until World War II, which was given to St. Emery Church by Fazekas. But no samples of their later Bertha and Elena divided their time be the Transylvanian Franciscans in 1957, works were found in their home, leaving tween their home in Budapest and a but also several now in the Museum of us to guess whether their style or sub home on the ocean at Ventnor, NJ. In the American Hungarian Foundation in ject matter had changed. Thus the de 1925, they showed their work at the New Brunswick, NJ, as for example a Hellebranth sisters remain a partial Nemzeti Szalon in Budapest, and in statue of St. Francis and another of enigma to this day. 1926, they had a joint exhibition of their Christ. Elena contributed several folk portraits in the US. Both exhibited their style panels to the Hungarian Pavilion’s Erika Papp Faber is Editor of Magyar work at the Art Institute of Chicago, the display at the 1939 New York World’s News Online. wood, when there was a shipment. (We where the people from the villages would An Unusual Jail Break had many empty runs too.) After the come to sell their produce. She would Kováts László curfew was over, all three of us, my try to find someone from that village, Mother, godmother and I would go to the and thus send the letter to the soldier’s This story goes back to the times imme- lumber yard early, to make sure we were relatives. And that is what she did. Of the diately following the end of World War II in the first row when they opened the three letters, only one was lucky. There and the beginning of the Russian occu- pation of Hungary. It demonstrates that gates, because if we got in at the head were people from that village at the mar even in dangerous times, people will find of the crowd, we might also be able to ket, and she gave them the letter. We a way to help others in trouble. get some wood. The logs of wood were couldn’t do anything else. We did not sorted into cubic meter piles, and after know what the result was, and probably I don’t really like to write about my war the gates were opened, whoever could thought no more of it. time experiences, but I will do so now, run and stand in front of one of the piles, because it may provide an example of putting his hand on it, would have the Days passed, we stood in line for food, solidarity and human assistance. right to the logs. When the reserved pile for firewood. One morning, an older disappeared, the rest could go home peasant woman and a fine, strapping Not far from the main railroad station of empty handed. I was the “runner” and young man came into the yard. They Debrecen, along the Debrecen the “reservationist”. This is how we got were looking for my Mother. They Nyíregyháza line was the extensive Artil heating fuel. stopped politely at the kitchen door, and lery Post ( Tüzérlaktanya ) which during introduced themselves, asking to come the war had provided quarters for many We were hurrying towards the lumber in, because they wanted to talk to my Hungarian army units, and was also a yard one gray, frigid morning. Along the Mother. They came in and sat down. transfer station for them. At the end of right side of the road was the prison Then the young man took out of his the war, the Soviets turned it into a camp’s second wire fence. On the left pocket that letter which we picked up on prison camp. It was a good spot for that side were family houses, a sidewalk, and the street, wrapped around a stone that purpose too, since they could deliver a small grassy strip between the sidewalk my Mother had taken to the market. He plenty of war prisoners into the camp by and the road itself, with medium high was the soldier who had written it. He way of the very busy railroad line. They thin scattered trees which had survived related that when the Russians heard did not have to bring the trains into the the war. This is where we were walking that many prisoners in the camp had station; they stopped them along the on the road, when something thumped relatives nearby, they allowed the rela open tracks, and ordering the prisoners on the ground, jumping two or three tives to come to bring food for the hun to get off, drove them directly into the times like a bullet. Then it lay still in the gry prisoners one Sunday afternoon. camp. Thus the number of the camp’s sparse grass. We stopped dead. It inhabitants increased, particularly with seemed as if someone was pelting Well, Hungarians know how to make the Hungarian prisoners of war. us. And someone was. I grabbed one of best of any situation. The visitors the “bullets” from the ground – it was a streamed in, men, women, children, In front of the Artillery Post was an enor stone wrapped in a wrinkled piece of pa young people, bringing great baskets of mous bare field called the exercise per and carefully bound. It made a good food – bread, bacon, whatever the coun grounds. By the end of the war, this fistful in the palm of my hand. At that try larder could provide. But there were tract had of course become a neglected moment we suddenly realized that it was other things too! Civilian clothing, trou area overgrown with weeds. It was good a message from the camp. Imprisoned sers, jackets, shoes were at the bottom for the Russians because, in addition to soldiers had carefully prepared it so that of the baskets. Imprisoned soldiers the traditional Post fence, this is where this small package could be thrown over changed clothes in a lavatory, and when they built a second wire fence, thus dou the wire fence, through the no man’s visiting time was over, simply walked out bly isolating the camp. And this is where land, out onto the road, if possible to of the camp with the crowd. This is how they built guard towers, so no one could people passing by. They succeeded. our soldier came out too. He told us the pass in or out here. That was true of story. They had come to thank my people, but not of other things, as will be We picked up three of those flying Mother for her help which had contrib seen later. “bullets” and put them away. We would uted to his escape. open them at home. We took care of the A wide, cobbled road ran along the side firewood purchase and went home. My P.S. After this, when the camp comman of the Post, leading out of the city. I Mother took apart the little letter dants discovered the escapes, no more don’t remember what the road’s name weighted with the rock. In each one, a visits were allowed. According to re was at the time. Workers walked along Hungarian soldier had written his name ports, they indiscriminately rounded up there daily to the tobacco factory, to the and address, and asked the finder to let civilians from the street to make up the railroad repair workshops and many his relatives in the neighboring village required number of prisoners. other places. This was also where the know that he was alive and was here in lumber yard was, where the narrow the camp. Kováts László is a retired economist living gauge railroad brought firewood from the in Budapest. Gút Forest. This was of interest to us, There was no mail service at that because this is where we got our fire time. What could be done? My Mother had the idea to go out to the market, Do Hungarians Rule the Waters?…. Olga Vallay Szokolay Did you know... that Hungarians are champions again in all kinds of water sports? Including Water Polo? Certain water sport events like WATER POLO have been historically Hungarian dominated. Even after some slump here and there, the laurels are back on the drip ping heads of the Hungarian team. As per the August 3 rd report of Waterpoloworld.com, Hungary is the 2013 World Champion again, holding off Montenegro 8 7 in the FINA World Championships. It is the third world title for the Magyars who celebrate their 10 th medal at these events. Hungarians also know how to harness the wind into their sails. At the August 24 28 Newport Byte CII World SAILING Championship, they achieved 100% suc cess! In a field of 38 competitors of 22 nations, Vadnai Jonatán won the world championship. Érdi Mária be came women’s World Champion and reached a 5 th place even in the combined race with men. At this champion ship all possible titles were won by Hungarians! A shining star of SWIMMIMG was born 24 years ago in Pécs,Hungary. In recent years, Hosszú Katinka has been the increasingly incredible champion of endurance, skill and determination. On August 11 th , in Berlin, Ger many “she kept steamrolling through the 2013 FINA World Cup just like she did the 2012 edition. By the end of the night, she owned all the IM world records along with a triple this evening.” Having spent four years in Los Angeles coached by Dave Salo, she returned to Hungary. Under the coach ing of her now husband (since August 22), Shane Tusup, Katinka has grown into a habitual record braker. She “currently owns the 100 IM (57.45), 200 IM (2:03.20) and now 400 IM (4:20.85) marks for her sixth world record performance in four days of swim ming” that week. There was a shower of medals for Hungary at the 2013 ICF CANOE Sprint World Championships in Duisburg, Germany, the end of August. The power and technique of the world’s most dominant paddling nation earned the team of this eastern European powerhouse an astonishing ten podium pres entations on day four. Out of the ten medals, five were GOLD, which just trumped the host nation’s four. Czóbel Minka verse: A por Czóbel Minka (Vilhelmina) was born into a family of large landowners at An arcspuszta in Szabolcs County. She was born in 1853 and died in 1947, at her birthplace. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, and traveled throughout In this almost photographic description one Europe. In addition to Hungarian, she also spoke and wrote poetry in Ger can almost see the evening light woven man, French and even English. She translated Madách’s The Tragedy of Man through the dust of the village street stirred up into German, and a number of Petıfi’s poems into English. She was the first by the returning flocks and herds. The almost to translate Verlaine’s poetry into Hungarian, the French poet who later would forgotten author deserves to be better known. have such a profound influence on Ady and his generation. A por Her brother in law, the painter Mednyánszky László (who, although of noble birth, had great concern for the sufferings of the poor), was a major influence Czóbel Minka on Minka’s development and outlook. Although related to aristocracy, she was Repül a por az ıszi táj felett, democratic in her feelings. Mednyánszky showed her poetry to Jókai, who was enchanted and encouraged her to continue her literary efforts. – Hamvas, kavargó, könnyü fellegek – Felkél a hazatérı nyáj nyomán Czóbel Minka’s poetry is colorful and musical. She learned to see through the Az utak széles, hosszú vonalán, eyes of the Impressionist painters, and to distinguish shadings of sound from Nagy csordák fehér sokasága benne, the so called „French decadent poets” („decadent” in the literal sense of „declining” – indicating those poets who saw the decline or fall of the tradi mintha egy hadsereg dobogva menne, tional middle class and its rapidly approaching end). Minka learned the art of Most gyors, rövid morgással általvágja A falu göndörszırő disznónyája. 1) free verse from Walt Whitman, and began to write, as one of the first in Hun gary, what she called „rhythmic prose”. She is considered a forerunner of Sötétebb színben, símább mozdulattal, Ady and his pioneering literary magazine A vidám fürge ménes haza nyargal, The West. But living in wealthy rural Aztán libák, fehér szárnnyal repesve, conditions in the countryside, Czóbel Minka remained outside the circle of the destitute poets of the capital who were shaping modern Hungarian poetry. Gágogva. – Csak mindinkább száll az estve. Despite her considerable achievements, she was forgotten even during her Árnyképekként már elvonultak mind, lifetime. Csak por az úton s néma csend megint. – A láthatáron nyárfák koronája, Fráter Lóránd (1872 – 1930), an outstanding composer of songs, set Czóbel Levélzetük égı világos sárga, Minka’s poem „Száz szál gyertyát” to music. He was a count, born in Transyl Kék ég lapjáról élesen leválnak vania, who studied at the Ludovika military academy and served as a hussar Finom metszéső, ízzó sárga ágak. captain. He retired from the army at the age of 34, and spent the rest of his life composing songs and playing with a gypsy band that played his very Aranykévéket dob a por felébe popular compositions. Three volumes of his songs were published. Estsugarak hosszúra nyujtott vége. Csak száll a porarannyal áttört leple, Az ıszi tájat hullámával fedve. Hideg fénnyel keresztül csillan rajta Egy nádastó víztükre, szines partja. Szétszórt vályogkunyhók a nádas mellett, S nyár folytán gazdagra vadult kis kertek: Nagy napraforgó lehajtott fejével, Zöld csodafa, mesés levélzetével, Távol kelet varázslatos virága, Élesre rajzolva gyümölcse, ága, A szerb tövis, piros álkörmös szárak Dusan fejlıdve egymás mellett állnak. Virágok ingadozva hajlanak: Bővös színek a porfátyol alatt, Világos álom elmosódott képe; Arany csillám a rózsaszínő égbe’. Minden felszálló elrepült parányba’ Az anyaföldnek egy egy édes álma: Rég elvirult növényzetnek pora, Elhamvadt nemzedékek tábora, Szétomlott sziklák foszlott törmeléke. – Csak száll a por a finom esti légbe, S örökre egyesülve benne téved Az elmúló – kifogyhatatlan élet.
Czóbel Minka Száz szál gyertyát 1) ragyás – pockmarked Czóbel Minka verse 2) csaplárné – innkeeper’s wife megzenésítette Fráter Lóránd 3) kármentı – (lit. saving from damage) taproom separated with latticework from the rest of the inn Esik esı sőrő cseppje, sötét felhık alatt, 4) jómadár – ruffian, scoundrel Szomorúan verdesi a ragyás 1) csárda falat. 5) betyárvilág – world of outlaws Tört ablakon süvít a szél, benn egy csonka lámpa, 6) icce – old liquid measure, approx. three quarters of a Meg meginog hosszú drótján, füstös már a lángja. quart 7) fokos – a small axe on a long handle, once used as a Vendég ide, hogy is jönne, ily cudar idıbe’, weapon A vén csaplárné 2) is alszik, ott a kármentıbe’. 3) Hej! Mert olyan jómadarak 4) most már nem is járnak, Mind elpusztult, régen vége a betyárvilágnak 5). Ámde mégis ajtó nyílik, lassan belép rajta İszült ember, meglátszik, hogy régi betyár fajta. A csaplárné meg nagyot néz, hogy még egyszer hallja: Kocsmárosné! Száz szál gyertyát, száz icce 6) bort ide az asztalra! A vén betyár egyre ordít, fokosát 7) forgatja: Kocsmárosné! Száz szál gyertyát, száz icce bort ide az asz talra!
Magyar News Online
242 Kings Hwy Cut-off Fairfield, CT 06824 www.magyarnews.org
Editor: Erika Papp Faber
Founder, Editor and Publisher Emeritus: Joseph F. Balogh
Editorial Board: Eliz Kakas, Judith Paolini Martha Matus Schipul Olga Vallay Szokolay Paul Soos Olga Vallay Szokolay Joseph Ull, Steve Jakab
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Assistant Webmaster: Zsuzsa Lengyel Czóbel Minka's kúria (country house) and grave marker