As someone who is actively interested in genealogy, I could not fail to research my Hungarian line. But I've met some people who neglect their Hungarian lineage when they are researching because they are ashamed to admit to being even part Hungarian. To be fair, this isn't limited to Hungarian-Americans.
I've met people who dismiss their Polish line or their Slovak line.
One ex-friend of mine told me her children were "Germans," which is what she told her co-workers and employers, oh and all those people she met when she joined Young Republicans. But in fact, her children were mostly German from contributions from her side and her husband's side on their families. She was actually from German, Hungarian, and French heritage. Her husband was German and Swedish.
Now if you go back a ways, you are probably going to run into some Germans who went to other countries. Germany LET PEOPLE OUT OF GERMANY without requiring that they give up being Germans. Those who left did so because they were not in line to inherit the family farm, economic reasons, work. They settled in other countries, such as Hungary, and over generations kept to German culture. Some of them went back when Romania in recent history was not receptive to their stay.
The best reason I've ever heard for not doing your Hungarian line genealogy is that you fear it will be difficult because of the language. I'm not going to say that it isn't challenging at times, but many documents are not in Hungarian but are in Latin, or German, or another language. Avoiding genealogy because what you want isn't in English? You can get research help from experts in the United States or in Hungary. You can certainly use on-line translators...
I've met people who dismiss their Polish line or their Slovak line.
If you just want to monkey around before you commit to doing your Hungarian-American research, check out the Hungarian National Archives on line! Look through postcards, art, documents that were originally written hundreds of years ago!
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
GRADESCHOOL VALENTINES STILL BRING UP MEMORIES OF LITTLE GIRL CRUSHES
I was very lucky to have a mom who scrapbooked greeting cards I received as a child. These scrapbooks are mostly stored away but the kind of thing that you would want to run out with if you were warned to evacuate your home due to pending mudslide or fire.
Although in my grade school is was not mandatory for every child to give every other child in the class a Valentine, and nor do I think that should be mandated, it was exciting when it came time for the big box covered in wrapping paper with a mail slot in the top to be opened and the Valentine's distributed.
Though only 6 or 7 at the time, I knew there were one or two or three people I hoped I would get a Valentine from. Oh the art was too cute and so was the humor, but one flipped over the card to see if anything besides a signature had been written. Even the signature was so important!
These days I tend to think that Valentine's Day, as are many holidays, is overblown with materialism and have to's. I long for the days when a Valentine was precious and meant something special - that there was more sincerity involved.
Maybe this is because I recently reencountered an adult woman who I've always basically liked, but who I remember as being a bit over the top and at ease with telling people she loves them "very much." If actions speak louder than words, such effusive gushes of adoration must sub in for the fact that she rarely has time for most people. She is busy with work, and going out with her small inner circle after work, saving herself for big gatherings where she can encounter a lot of people, do some sharing, and make such declarations.
It's not that she dislikes you or is hiding hatred. It's just so insincere!
I think overall our society is encouraging us to blur liking someone into loving them.
Liking someone does not require you send them a Valentine!
P.S. I love my dog but am not baking her a Doggie Valentine Cupcake full of liver!
Although in my grade school is was not mandatory for every child to give every other child in the class a Valentine, and nor do I think that should be mandated, it was exciting when it came time for the big box covered in wrapping paper with a mail slot in the top to be opened and the Valentine's distributed.
Though only 6 or 7 at the time, I knew there were one or two or three people I hoped I would get a Valentine from. Oh the art was too cute and so was the humor, but one flipped over the card to see if anything besides a signature had been written. Even the signature was so important!
These days I tend to think that Valentine's Day, as are many holidays, is overblown with materialism and have to's. I long for the days when a Valentine was precious and meant something special - that there was more sincerity involved.
Maybe this is because I recently reencountered an adult woman who I've always basically liked, but who I remember as being a bit over the top and at ease with telling people she loves them "very much." If actions speak louder than words, such effusive gushes of adoration must sub in for the fact that she rarely has time for most people. She is busy with work, and going out with her small inner circle after work, saving herself for big gatherings where she can encounter a lot of people, do some sharing, and make such declarations.
It's not that she dislikes you or is hiding hatred. It's just so insincere!
I think overall our society is encouraging us to blur liking someone into loving them.
Liking someone does not require you send them a Valentine!
P.S. I love my dog but am not baking her a Doggie Valentine Cupcake full of liver!
Saturday, February 3, 2018
KRAMPUS GETS INTO VALENTINE'S DAY ACTION TOO?
I'm beginning to think that old Krampus needs to retire already!