AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

WORLD PEACE GONG in GODOLLA HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #15

World Peace Gong in Godollo, Hungary 

Photo by Zizz.

 It seems this is an eternal wish, for peace on planet earth seems to never come.  But that is certainly my wish now and for our future on this planet.

There is a song. "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me..."

                                                                 

Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to get to the entire series on this theme.

WISHING FOR PEACE

It seems this is an eternal wish, for peace on planet earth seems to never come.  But that is certainly my wish now and for our future on this planet.

There is a song. "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me..."

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

 

FIVE ANCIENT HUNGARIAN DANCES : DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WIND QUINTET

BY THE BOOK

 

"ANGEL FROM HEAVEN Mennyből az angyal"

SAINT MIKULA and SECRET GIVING - THE SAINT NICHOLAS CENTER

SAINT NICHOLAS CENTER _ THE REAL SAINT NICK  This article tells the true story of the man who provided gold as the dowries for a once-rich man's daughters, and sparked the tradition of SECRET GIVING.  He didn't become the fat and "jolly' Santa Claus for centuries. But the custom of secret giving spread through medieval Europe.

OF HUNGARIAN HERITAGE? TRY THESE CUSTOMS FOR YOUR AMERICAN CHRISTMAS!

Children write letters to Jesus. Parents will mail them or use their personal connections to get the letters to him. One page only, please!

Your Christmas tree does not go up until Christmas Eve.  The children go to bed.  The tree is delivered by angels.  You may opt to ring a bell when the tree and presents from Jesus are ready.

Take it down mid January.  (Feast of Three Kings.)

Very traditional (18th century) hang a pine bough from a live tree from a center beam or ceiling instead of having a whole tree cut down. More ecological, and the smell of pine will permeate.

Hang your Christmas tree with soft candy.  Soft jelly type candies covered in chocolate and wrapped in foil or perhaps homemade walnut clusters are more traditional but you can be inventive. Also consider apples, fruit, or popcorn.

American variation: home made fudge, popcorn clusters, or fruit can be hung in little net bags that have a bow. Visitors get to take one or two from the tree.

Instead of hanging large stockings, have the children put out their shoes or boots out on the evening of December 5th.  The shoes must be polished and clean. Little presents from the Saint come December 6th. Put the boots out on the porch.

Deliver your presents from Saint Nick instead of Santa.  Tell the children the story of Saint Nicholas.  

Better yet, perhaps it's best if the gifts come from Jesus himself.  Open presents from family after your evening meal on Christmas Eve.  

Go to Midnight Mass.

Visit with family and friends on Christmas day and December 26th.

Instead of a turkey, cook a Hungarian inspired meal; get out your cookbooks. Consider having the children help with the meal, for instance, making fresh egg and flour dumplings. 

Play classical music or Hungarian language carols in the background as you cook.

Leave Christmas Day as a spiritual holiday as it was meant to be. Generosity to others is important; consider a family gift to a charity.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO THE HORSES (AND HORSE LOVERS!)

 

THANK YOU - Köszönöm

 

LAJOS KOSSUTH STATUE ERECTED IN BUFFALO NEW YORK

HUNGARY TODAY : KOSSUTH STATUE UNVEILED in BUFFALO  

OK - it's been about a year... 

Excerpt:

Hungary's consulate general in New York said the best is meant to commemorate Kossuth's visit to Niagara Falls on May 22, 1852, and to pay tribute to the Hungarians who emigrated to the US in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Kossuth's efforts to keep the ideas of the freedom fight of 1848-1849 alive had a significant impact on the United States as well, the consulate said, adding that multiple US presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy had quoted Kossuth several times.

SARASOTA FLORIDA HUNGARIANS / AMERICAN HUNGARANS : KOSSUTH CLUB

AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FEDERATION : KOSSUTH CLUB

HUNGARY TODAY : SARASOTA HUNGARIANS and KOSSUTH CLUB

Excerpt: The Education Fund provides Kossuth Club scholarships to college-bound seniors of Hungarian descent in Sarasota and Manatee Counties and to Hungarian minority students in Central Europe. ...

How many Hungarians live in this area?  Eva and Geza estimate that there may be some 50-60- thousand scattered over an elongated stretch of coastal areas from Tampa to Naples.  But Sarasota is the cultural capital!  

Imagine from Wikimedia / Wikiwand

REMEMBER

ALL SOULS DAY and ALL SAINTS - HUNGARY NATIONAL HOLIDAY SINCE 2000

"According to folklore, the dead visit them during such times, so it is customary in many places to lay the table for them as well, put bread, salt, and water on the table.  The Hungarians of Bukovina also bake and cook for the dead and take the food to the cemetery and distribute it.  They light as many candles at home as many dead the family has.  In the villages along the river Ipoly, those who cannot go to the cemetery light candles at home on All Saints Day.  They used to observe whose candle burnt out first, because it was believed that they would be the first to die in the family.

Excerpt from :  HUNGARY TODAY - ALL SOULS FOLKLORE  More regional folklore here and gorgeous photos...

Just a note that I have always thought that the term All Souls Day and the term All Saints Day indicated the same holiday but I was wrong, All Souls is for the ancestors but All Saints is for the saints we know about and the saints we do not know about.  In Catholicism it is understood that many a saintly person lived in obscurity.  However, prayer to help those who have not yet gone to heaven to be with God can be said especially on these days, or truly any time.  These souls are able to be released to heaven, and are not suffering eternally for the evil deeds they did when alive.

PUMPKIN

 

A HUNGARIAN- AMERICAN INTERPRETATION OF HUNGARIAN ALL SOULS and ALL SAINTS CAKE GIVING

In Hungarian tradition, which is surprisingly like the Mexican one, families take food to the cemetery.  They clean the graves, leave flowers and food for the ancestors. They light candles on the graves.  And they may also give "Beggers" who are outside the gates some of the bread or cake they brought with them.  It makes practical sense that the beggers should eat, for food can only be 'eaten' by the spirits who are in the next world. 

May I suggest that a way for Hungarian-Americans to continue this tradition is to donate to a food bank?

Though I'm no longer volunteering at meal or food bank - distribution sites, I've made some inquiries about how it's going at a local food bank.  I'm told that as the cost of living has gotten out of control, the contributions are way down, especially of the fresh produce, and so they are giving out more dry goods - pasta, rice, and so on, and even the canned goods tend to be potato and corn.  I can tell you that too much of these foods is not a healthy diet and the cause of weight gain and even problems with sugar. These carbs must be balanced with proteins and vegetables. I know that I myself sometimes make too much of a meal with them.

However, I realized long ago that the things that are given out - and sometimes that includes non-food items such as soap and shampoo and toothpaste - are still appreciated.  If a person goes to a foodbank before their money runs out, they may be able to spend on the items that they do not receive at no charge.

Most food banks cannot accept your home baked goods, even though the same baked goods could be given to a church bazaar or event. This is because of health department rules that aim to prevent food illnesses and also because of the rare but terrible events in which evil people intend to harm others through things they bake in or put in foods. Packaged and store bought items rather than home baked items are even required for schools. I sure wish we were back in the day with this.  As a result, what you donate to a food bank must also be purchased at a store.

Bread is something that is inexpensive for most stores to donate to food banks and so there is usually quite a bit of it given.  However, I noticed that my local stores that used to have drastically reduced day-old pastries and breads are also out of these items. 

Please consider my suggestion.

C 2022 Magyar-American BlogSpot

A MESSAGE

WARSAW MUMMY PROJECT ID'S FIRST PREGNANT MUMMY

You may want to look at past posts here at MAGYAR AMERICAN BLOGSPOT dealing with the HUNGARIAN MUMMIES too.

The Warsaw Mummy Project is applying the latest medical science techniques to EGYPTIAN MUMMIES and has discovered a pregnant mummy,  they call The Mysterious Lady.

Death in childbirth was (and is) a real threat and so it's surprising that no pregnant mummy has been found before.  Perhaps those in museums were pregnant and only now can this be detected?

WARSAW MUMMY PROJECT

This site is beautifully designed with an interesting interactive...

FIERY

RECIPE FOR ALL SAINTS CAKE Mindszenti Kalacska - SOUL CAKES

CATHOLIC CULTURE LITURGICAL RECIPES   This cake has lemon or orange rind intended for a little flavor, yeast, lots of eggs.  However this citrus cannot be a traditional cake because citrus was not traditionally available in Hungary.  I know from other research that the source of vitamin C in Hungary was peppers and cabbage. An orange or lemon was imported was a special but unusual treat for a long time.

Small round cakes with a cross on top - be that by cutting or decorating a cross icon - are called SOUL CAKES and other European cultures also had a tradition of giving out these cakes.  An English tradition had children praying for souls and being given these cakes as a kind of treat.

There are also pagan traditions that suggest that food is offered for Hungry (not Hungarian) Ghosts.

If you have a recipe you want to share please send it in a comment~  thanks!

POST SUMERIAN SCYTHIAN MAGYARS

  

Post Sumerian Scythian Magyars.

This station promotes the notion that the ancient Magyars were the Sumerians.  On other videos posted by the same channel, links between languages are shown.  This is one of many theories.  I think this is a very beautiful and well done video.

REINCARNATE

TOLEDO OHIO HUNGARIANS

HUNGARIAN CLUB OF TOLEDO   

I was unable to find an official web site for this active group, other than Facebook.  I personally have never done Facebook but I realize some people like it.  So, I will allow you to do your own bit of research in order to connect with your Hungarian and American-Hungarian peers in Toledo.  For those of you, who are like me, not familiar with Toledo, they are in the Birmingham area and it appears they have a club house.

The group appears to be very active and get involved in local festivals like the Beer and Bacon. 

If you're a member of this club, please use COMMENTS to tell us more

PS:  Ohio and New Jersey have the most people of Hungarian or American-Hungarian descent.

DO YOU KNOW A HUNGARIAN GHOST STORY?

 Please leave a comment!  Maybe a referral to a book or article?

CAPSICUM FRUITS IN SZEGED

What a wonderful photo!

Capsicum fruits in Szeged, Hungary. Photo by Váradi Zsolt.

 

PAPRIKA PAPRIKA PARIKA : HUNGARIAN/ HUNGARIAN-AMERICAN STEREOTYPE

 

Hungarians supposedly use PAPRIKA generously and more so that salt.  I mean on EVERYTHING not just Chicken paprikash.  When I started this series on nationalistic stereotypes, I mentioned goulash.   You say "I'm Hungarian."  They say "Oh, Hungarian goulash."

 Well, it seems goulash has paprika in it too.  So do many recipes that have become traditional.  Hungarian cooking is said to be the only European fare that embraces heat.

 So what's the 'scoop?'

In Hungary there are many varieties of the peppers that were introduced, like tulips were, by the Turks, who were so much the enemy that they slaughtered two thirds of the Hungarians in order to occupy and take over the country. But then maybe the Hungarians only borrowed the name for the plant from Turkish words and were more comfortable with the notion that the peppers originated in Portugal. The Hungarians liked these peppers, not to be confused with the Spanish/Mexican peppers, as these have a more sweet taste. Peppers are higher in Vitamin C than citrus and provided much of the vitamin C at a time when citrus was a tropical fruit that didn't grow in a temperate climate and wasn't imported much either. There are a variety of these peppers with different degrees of heat, from none to mouth burning.

Supposedly if you buy paprika you should use it within 6 months because of flavor changes that could mean the taste goes bitter but I've had the same tin longer than that, from an American grocer too, and it's just fine sprinkled on boiled eggs after 'deviling' the yolks, and on potato salad or on freshly made humus.

So here's the catch. In the United States only one type of paprika spice is generally sold (but for a little importing into rare specialty stores) so many a Magyar-American may not even know about the other flavor varieties available in Hungary and so have a limited number of recipes to use it in. (American paprika is often a product of California.)  Depending on the region of Hungary, the soil there, the pepper has a different flavor.

Which means that Hungarians in Hungary have the variety and the knowledge on how to use the various peppers and paprikas made of them and are judicious.  And get this : a pepper is a pepper and a chili is a chili... sometimes they look the same but they are not, so if you enter a hot chili eating contest you're not eating hot pepper. Sweet, hot, or smoked, you basically have two varieties, and the one that began to be integrated into Hungarian cooking in the 17th century is from Szeged. 

No, Hungarians DO NOT lavish paprika on everything or without first tasting the dish before deciding to sprinkle more on.  However, paprikas are used in very many recipes. So, as for this stereotype, perhaps it's one to be applied more to the Hungarians than the Hungarian-Americans?

Here is a good discussion about the history and use of paprika! THE HUNGARIAN PAPRIKA

C 2022 Magyar-American BlogSpot

HARVEST ANGEL

 

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO BEING HUNGARIAN : AN INTELLIGENT BOOK THAT IS ALSO FUN

 Sixteen notable writers.

These writers tackle subjects beyond stereotypes (like the cover of the book - peppers and mustaches) about what Hungary and Hungarians are about, looking at the past as well as the present situation as a result of the past. Pride in a unique heritage is one thing, people not picking up dog poo in Budapest is another.  From places to go and things to do, to relatives who got stranded in what is now another country before the country was significantly chopped. From heritage horses, pigs, and sheep, to the fact that the Hortobagy Plain was once forested and the vacant salty expanse of it now is due to overgrazing of animals.

Folk customs... likely begun in the 17th century or so not brought from Eurasia. Regional dress that used to identify village, class, and so on, now mainly worn by textile sellers and people on their way to dance class but yet there are places in Hungary where there exists people who can 'read' or identify the dress. The

difference between folk tale and folk legend and more than one origin story.  These short essays seem more reckoning than opinion,  I thoroughly enjoyed this intelligent book, which also, I am so happy to say, is not mired or overly sober.

C 2022 Magyar American - BlogSpot 

All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights

TENDER

MEDITATION SUNSET FROM MISKOLC

 

Beautiful sundown over Miskolc and no Commercials! From Chasing Sanity YouTube Channel.

HUNGARIAN WOMEN on GENEALOGY RECORDS : PRO GENEALOGY TIPS

In September of 2014 I posted a series of Genealogy Tips focused on the special considerations researching Hungarian women of our heritage. In an effort to make all the genealogy tip series I've written for this blog, I've given each a unique label as well as icon.

The label, which you can click to bring up the series, is Hungary-Women - Genealogy Tips

The series also uses the icon to the left which comes from Wikimedia . The image was scanned by Szilas from the book Erdely Tortenet (History of Transylvania) which was held in the National Szehenyi Library and is identified as being an Hungarian noble of Transylvania.

(Costume Bilder aus Siebenbürgen)

You must go to the original image to determine if you can use it for your purposes, as it may depend on what country you're using it in. 

HUNGARICANA URBARIUM 1767 : HOW STATUS on CHURCH AND CENSUS RECORDS CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR HUNGARIAN GENEALOGY TIP#14

Addition to previous posts on the 1767 Urbarium (also called the Marie-Theresa census) which was previously a series posted to this blog!  You can bring up the whole series by clicking on the tag/label Pro tips: 1767 Hungaricana Urbarium

*********

Just going over some of my personal research I wanted to add to the previous series that you can pull up by clicking on the label Pro tips: 1767. 

I mentioned that sometimes you will find in birth, marriage, and other church records the profession or "status" of the person listed.  And that when you look at the Marie Theresa census findings, you will also see that people are listed by class or status.  First listed is the owner of the estate, then the Colony, then Inquilis and then Subinqulis.  I want to expand upon that.

I mentioned that sometimes in Latin or Hungarian (and sometimes in Slovak or German) the mention of Free People or People free to go.  These people are usually mentioned in COLONY.  I said that people in the COLONY list are sometimes called "Perpetual People" and that meant that they came with the land, or they were "always there." 

Some of these people did indeed seem to "always" live there, but some of the free to go or COLONY people are also what is called Castle Warriors or the nobility of the lowest nobility, or sometimes nobility of the highest but for whom there is no more land or money to go around.  These great families may have split land, sold land, lost land, or been disenfranchised due to the slaughter by the Turks or in war with them over hundreds of years. Now on small plots of land sufficient to feed their family and sell some on the side, they may also be listed in the 1828 land census. However, they are still nobles and recognized and honored as such. 

Let's say you are dealing with COMMON surnames. However you see on church records that someone is listed as COLONY.  Therefore if you see people of the same surname on the census in the COLONY you probably have a match.  Colony people owned their land, so the may be matched with the names on the 1828 Land Census.  Now, if the person with the surname is listed as a subinquilis, a person sub-renting the land to farm on, thus close to the serf-landlord relationship with that surname, we cannot confuse them with the people in the Colony.

It's not a guaranteed match for things did happen back in the day that were not usual.  It is always possible that someone who was a servant for the landlord inherited land from him.  It's possible that the beautiful maiden of a subinquilis marries the landlord.  However, class structure was what it was, such situations were not usual.

Arranged marriages continued the idea that one should marry in their own class and in farming communities who married who might be a community decision. Additionally, some landlords did act as though they owned every man's woman, and might want to be with a virgin before she could meet up with her new husband on his wedding night. Such conditions were akin to what happened in American slavery, not all the time, but sometimes. I wish I could say that religion prevented this but I doubt it did. Sexism, as we see it, prevailed. 

Back in that day people were born into the circumstances that would effect if not dictate their entire lives. To have Choice is what Freedom as all about. Declaring freedom is not the same as actually having it. 

Noting class and status on records is important and may be just the thing that helps you connect correctly to the right ancestors.

C 2022  Magyar American BlogSpot  All Rights Reserved Including Internet and International Rights

FOLK LIFE PRESERVED at SKANZEN OPEN AIR MUSEUM - SZENTENDRE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #14

SKANZEN OPEN AIR MUSEUM  SKANZEN ORG   in SZENTENDRE   

A non profit that is preserving the folk life - the houses, interior design, objects of art and use, recipes... Look on line here...

Is it time to make ELDER FLOWER JUICE?  The recipe is online...

EXCERPT: The more and more elaborate settlement plan appropriates the relocation of more than 400 edifices into the museum, arranged into village-like regional units on the basis of ethnographical considerations.  Within the unites buildings are fitted into the traditional system of peasant households, supplemented by sacred, communal and outbuildings which used to be integral parts of traditional villages.  Dwellings and farm-buildings represent the typical houses and outbuildings having evolved historically in each region....

Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to bring up all posts on this theme.

NEW BRUNSWICK - NEW JERSEY HUNGARIAN HERITAGE CENTER - FESTIVAL - MUSEUM - SOCIALS

NEW BRUNSWICK - AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FEDERATION   For several waves of immigration from Hungary, the New Brunswick area has been welcoming.  A yearly festival and lots of other activities make this city a travel destination for Hungarians and Hungarian-Americans  (or as they say American Hungarians).

AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FOUNDATION  an exciting digital library and archive links that can be helpful to your research...

Excerpt:  Publications, lecture series, festivals, exhibitions comprise a variety of activities to present literary and scientific output, as well as works of fine and folk art.  The collection is no doubt a major source of research on America Hungarians, annual dinners and fundraising balls were organized, scholarships and fellowships were offered to support scholarly research.

GATHERING

 

WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY SERIES : HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

You can bring up the entire series of WONDERFUL PLACES by clicking on the label Wonderful-Hungary.

If you have any suggestions for me, please leave a COMMENT, possibly with a link or other information I can use to read about the places you suggest.

I thank you all for reading my labor of love, MAGYAR AMERICAN and wish you all peace.

APPLE HARVEST

 

MEMORY PROJECT - HUNGARIAN AMERICANS 1956ers and DISLACED PERSONS WORLD WAR II

https://memoryproject.online/about-us/  testimonials, documentaries...

This is a good project and an opportunity for those who are now Americans because they or their families fled Hungary due to the 1956 crisis or who were displaced during World War II to record their story...

Do you know someone who should be sharing their story for the sake of history?

VICTOR ORBAN - 4th TERM AS PRIME MINISTER on HUNGARY AS A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY

I think it's difficult for Hungarian-Americans or those American citizens of Hungarian heritage to entirely relate to the "Conservative Christian" or "Christian" take on some of the issues.  While there are various reasons Hungary and Prime Minister Orban may wish to keep ties with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, especially economically, and the Hungarian People are taking in Ukrainian refugees in dramatic numbers, his rant against Communism and association with Liberal Progressives as Communists does not sit well with me.

First of all, Russia is a Communist Country, and it's quite possible that Putin's aim is to reinstate the Soviet Union which would re-establish Communism in Hungary.

Secondly Communism as it has been played out does not jive with Christianity.

However Socialism, also questionable, and Christianity do seem to share some beliefs.

To be a Progressive Liberal in the United States (such as to align oneself with Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders or Independent Marianne Williamson) is to believe that based on humanity, a person deserves food, shelter, and clothing, as well as education and health care, with the idea of elevating humanity as a whole. Taking care of our brothers and sisters is the aim and that is something that can be done without a belief in Jesus.

That said, there are a whole lot of people who call themselves Christians who do not meet the test.  Jesus said however we treat someone else is how we treat Him...

I don't want to get  too preachy here.  Life has taught me to get to know an individual and how they treat me and others may not depend on what they say they believe.  When you have not yourself it's difficult to also give to others.  

Don't we all want WORLD PEACE?

I guess not...

C 2022  Magyar American BlogSpot

HUNGARIAN CLUB OF THE TRIANGLE - RALEIGH DURHAM CHAPEL HILL

NORTH CAROLINA - HUNGARIAN AMERICAN CLUB OF THE TRIANGLE 

Welcome to MAGYAR-AMERICAN BLOGSPOT North Carolina!

This is a group interested in connection, including business networking.  There is a school in Durham that is focused on educating children of Hungarian heritage that meets twice a month at the clubhouse and has activities such as hiking.  

If you're Hungarian or Hungarian-American in North Carolina and feeling a little isolated this may be a group you want to join!

ARTIST SAM HAVADTOY and the DOORS TO CELEBRATE SAINT and KING STEPHEN

16th CENTURY EGER HUNGARY

Photo by Tolnai -korabeli kép alapján.

 

HUNGARIAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON STATE

HUNGARIAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION - SEATTLE WASHINGTON STATE 

This group is active with scouting and education of children.  They built a scout hut. You can learn Hungarian dances or check on what's new when it comes to Visas or Immigration.

BULL COW CALF - FAMILY PORTRAIT

They seem so at peace.

 

HUNGARIAN CLUB OF CHICAGO - LOTS OF ACTIVITIES - A BOOK ON THEIR HISTORY - SCHOLARSHIPS

HUNGARIAN CLUB OF CHICAGO 

Lots and lots of activity at this Club for Hungarian-Americans and Hungarians in America.

About that book:  The colorful stories hidden behind historical facts and old photographs will conjure up a world in which our predecessors will once again come alive.  Our grandparents and parents fought for their existence during their lifetimes and the messages their lives convey will make it easier to undersatnd our own life today. We just have to listen....

I WOULD CROSS THE DANUBE : Átalmennék a Dunán

My understanding is that this is from a just-released album. 

PANNONHALMA ARCH-ABBY : OVER 1000 YEARS OLD - SAINT MARTIN : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #13

 Over 1000 years? 

 

WIKKIMEDIA COMMONS

WHC _ UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE _ BENEDICTINE ABBEY of PANNONHALMA

Excerpt: The monastery of the Benedictine Order at Pannonhalma, funded in 996 and gently dominating the Pannonian landscape in western Hungary, had a major role in the diffusion of Christianity in medieval Central Europe. The Archabbey of Pannonhalma and its environment (the monastic complex, the Basilcia, Educational Buildings, the Chapel of Our Lady, the Millennium Chapel, the botanical and herbal gardens) outstandingly exemplifies the characteristic location, landscape connections, original structure, design and thousand year history of a Benedictine monastery.  The community of monks still functions today on the basis of the Rule of St. Benedict, and sustains with a unique continuity one of the living centres of European culture.

The present church, the building of which began in 1224, is the third on the site; it contains remains of its predecessors.  The elevated three-aisled choir, the oldest part of the building, overlies a similarly three-aisled crypt, probably an element of the earlier church on the site.

*** Go on and read the entire UNESCO world heritage site article!  There is a lot here about the architecture...

Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to bring up all posts on this theme.

HUNGARY and UKRAINE : OPTIMISTICALLY HOPEFULLY PRAYERFULLY

I recently met a neighbor whose parents are in their 70's and going to Hungary to travel.  The neighbor expressed to me that Orban's government really is fascist and that Orban and Putin are buddies and that the people of Hungary are increasingly "brainwashed" that what's happening in the Ukraine in the war that Russia started is "all the Ukrainian's fault." Further the neighbor stated that the people they know in Hungary who were all 'liberal media' have lost their jobs.

The neighbor and her parents have been warned to keep their mouths shut and get along while they travel for a month in the country.  I'm sure they are mostly seeing relatives.  The parents come from a family that went through World War II in that country and stories of horror are embedded in the family consciousness.

I don't see how this jives with the fact that so many Ukrainian refugees have fled the country to Poland and to Hungary (and to Canada, and the U.S.) and more per capita have been taken in by Hungarians.  There is a border shared and there have long been routes into the country from Ukraine and Poland, as we know from military history.  But back then the weaponry wasn't as it is today, with satellites, drones, various air vehicles, and the enormous and devastating bombs.  The threat that Russia will keep on going, even if it ends up being a country in which there are few men to marry, is real.

I worry that the attitude that the brutalization of civilians blamed on "All Ukrainian's fault" is just like telling a woman whose husband beats her, that it is all her fault.  If this is true, then there is also a tolerance to the violation of other's people's property, bodies, families - all of it CAN be "deserved."  Bullies and Power-Over win.

I thought we ALL knew better.

As a Hungarian-American I'm most certainly living here, and have an American attitude, but one of the reasons I blog at MAGYAR AMERICAN is that I want to uphold the pride of people of Hungarian heritage and culture. I cannot be a "Hungarian Nationalist" but I can see that value. Hungary is landlocked and two thirds smaller than it was at one time and I have reasoned that Orban has been faced with the challenges that come from the country being destroyed in the past by Moslem Turks/Ottomon Empire, and other, various invasions, including the Nazi's. He has to redefine what it means to be Hungarian, and surely that is not a lackey of Russian or the Soviet Union.

The other aspect of a Hungarian thinking "It's not so bad." or "It will all work out," optimistically or hopefully or prayerfully, is that maybe they do know it is bad, that it's a treading water experience. I do believe that Putin's goal is to revive The Soviet Union" perhaps as his last great feat before he himself passes into the next world.  But at what cost to the Russian people, even the Russian army, with so much loss?

Do not be deceived.  It is hell on earth over there in Ukraine.  One may get on with their lives numb from or unable to tolerate more bad, real news, but think again because thousands have had their lives destroyed when not even a year ago they were like you and me, just going about their business, perhaps not at all interested in politics, and also believing the world was moving to be a better place.

C Magyar American BlogSpot

All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS in HUNGARY in "ADVERSE CLIMATE" REPORT: HUNGARY TODAY

HUNGARY TODAY : HUMAN RIGHTS IN HUNGARY - PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN 

Click on the link in the article to the full report from the United States State Department.

PRESIDENT KATALIN NOVAK OF HUNGARY - FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF HUNGARY - CITES CHRISTIAN VALUES

EMBASSY OF HUNGARY in WASHINGTON DC - NEW PRESIDENT OF HUNGARY KATALIN NOVAK 

Excerpt:

Katalin Novák, the first female President of Hungary was inaugurated today in Budapest. Mrs. Novák emphasized that Hungary condemns Putin’s aggression, the armed invasion of a sovereign state. She also highlighted that Hungary wants peace and the country has taken in more than 700,000 Ukrainian refugees since February. After the outbreak of the war, Hungary launched the biggest humanitarian aid operation in its history

ELEVEN IN THE MORNING

 

HUNGARY TODAY NEWS ORIGINATING IN HUNGARY and ENGLISH VERSION

HUNGARY TODAY NEWSPAPER ENGLISH VERSION 

Maybe your time is limited, but it's more important that you know a bit about what's happening in Hungary than playing that video game or watching "reality' TV, so bookmark this site and promise me that you'll check in at least once a month 

THERE ARE NO SAD DOGS IN HEAVEN by SONYA FITZPATRICK : MAGYAR AMERICAN BOOK REVIEW

Finding Comfort After The Loss of A Pet...

The first few days after my dog died were pretty bad.  I didn't realize I had not changed clothes or washed my hair right away.  I also went out to a 'happy hour' with the purpose of having a little too much to drink, which isn't difficult for me because I drink very little.  I thought better of it when I also realized how tired I was and that a drink might put me in a danger zone.  I told many a stranger or associate that she had died, really anyone who would listen, such as people in line at the grocer.  And there were a few people I decided once and for all I didn't want to talk to or tell, such as a couple of men at the coffee house where she and I had sat outside.  Then I ordered in some library books on the subject.

This particular book was of interest because I saw the author Sonya Fitzpatrick on YouTube videos. Basically, she communicates with animals, mostly pets like cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, rats - you could say mammal animals. Because she is able to give people some specific information such as describing humans in the after-life (in spirit) who are relatives now caring for a pet, she's convincing.

Apparently animals can choose to reincarnate or stay there.  They are forgiving - or at least don't hold grudges - if due to some negligence or not understanding a person allows their pet outside where they are in danger of bigger animals or traffic or if they are holding off, not wanting to put an animal down.

However, there are some scenarios that are not covered in this book. While the statements

made would show that Fitzpatrick is for spaying and neutering, for chips and tags, and for putting down an animal in pain, what of the animal who exhibited an interest in life until the morning of or did have pups? Such as mine did before she and I met.  My dog was bred, I don't know how many times before me, but in life with me she showed recognition of puppies that looked like herself, even from a distance, and also got excited when she heard a maltese bark.  She was half maltese, I take it that might have been her mother's sound. I thought it was possible that she might be making the rounds in spirit, visiting people I never met. For instance maybe the first person who gave her up at age 1 1/2 really did love her and maybe she had doggie friends there.  Even the person who bred her, likely a family with a back yard and children, might also be forgiven by her for dumping her at the shelter, where she was on death row when I adopted her.

In other words, I perhaps selfishly want to think of her as mine forever, while treating her as an adult with a mind of her own.

The other day I went through my photo collection, sorry I had not taken more, but seeing that I had taken some photos of her that were good and printed out some in color. I also plan not to give away her things, but to keep them for some time.  Some day in the future I may think differently but not right now.

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HUNGARIAN NAME DAYS - CELEBRATE YOUR NAME DAY or CHOOSE THE NAME FOR YOUR BABY

DAILY NEW HUNGARY - TRADITION OF HUNGARIAN NAME DAYS

This short article suggests that name days are celebrated widely while your personal birthday is just celebrated by your family.  (I would guess family includes your closest friends.)

BEHIND THE NAME ; 365 NAMES and DAYS!  I love this list as it entails many a name used today.

HUNGARIAN SURNAMES and THEIR ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS

 

Names Collected from Genealogy Research

Please feel free to leave comments and additions.

Are you one of the Hungarian Americans 
who does not know
 the meaning of your surname?

HUNGARIAN SURNAMES
Some of these names are military related.
Some are professions.
Some indicate ownership of a place. 
Some are descriptive of a person's body or other characteristics.
Some indicate that a person is from a different ethnicity.
Sorry I cannot easily put in marks indicating pronunciation.

ACS or ATS - Carpenter (note occupational names ending with Acs or Ats)
ACEL - Steel
ALMASSY - Apple
ARANY - Gold
ARVAI/ ARVAY - from Arva County (Old Hungarian County)
BAN/ BANOS - Implies possession of a castle - ruler of territory
BATHORY/ BATHORI/ BATOR - Hero 
BERNATH - from person named Bernard
BOGDANY - Gift From God (Slavic origin.  Bog means God.)

BALOGH - Left Handed
BARNA - Brown 
HAJDU - An armed driver - pre automobile - on horse, cart, carriage.

HORVATH - Croatian 
HUSZAR - Rides horse fast - in military - or otherwise
JONAS - John (after Saint John of the Bible)
FARKAS - Wolf
FEHER - White
FEKETE - Black (Used to indicate Darkness such as a Dark Forest)
FODOR - Curly Haired
GERE - Gregory (From Gergely) 
GOMBOS - Comb or Comber - related to woodworking.
GOROG - Greek
GUBA - Overcoat (Nickname indicating Big Coat - Big Man on Campus)
GULYAS - Cattle herder
HAJOS - Sailor
HALASZ - Fisherman
HEGEDUS - Musician who plays Fiddle - Fiddler
ILLES - Ellis, Elijah, Giles
JOOS - Fortune Teller
JUHASZ - Sheep herder
KADAR - Cooper (Barrel Maker such as one used for Wine)
KATONA - Soldier
KEMENY - Difficult Person (Sorry!)
KERETES - Christian (Or from one of the many places that includes this word)
KERTESZ - Gardener (Think Tony and Jamie Lee Curtis)
KIRALY - KING
KISS or KIS - Small, Short, sometimes Junior 
KORIS - Ash Tree/Ash
KOSSUTH - Doe (Female deer) of Slavic origin
KOCSIS - Coachman
KOVACS - Smith
LAKATOS - Locksmith
LENGYEL - Polish, from Poland, Speaks Polish
LOVAS - Horse Rider (Messenger or Soldier)
LUKACS - Luke (after Saint Luke of the Bible) (may also be Jewish surname)
MARAI - Of Maria
MARKUS - Marks (after Saint Mark of the Bible) (may also be Jewish surname)
MESTER - Master (Craftsman, Teacher, or educated person)
MESZAROS - Butcher
MOLNAR - Miller
MORVAY - Moravian
NAGY - Large or Tall, sometimes Senior or Great
NEMES - Noble or Honorable - Person with Rights.  
NEMETH - German
ORASZ - Russian
OLAH - Vlach - Romanian
POGANY - Foreigner - Not Christian - Pagan
PALINKAS - Brandy (in particular Apricot Brandy) 
PATAKI - Place name also Living Near Creek
PAPP - Priest
RACZ - Serbian / Serb
RACKOCZY - From Rackoc (currently in Slovakia or Ukraine) SEBESTYEN - Sebastian
SEDER - Cranberry (Not the Jewish meal)
SIMON - Simon
SIMKO - Simon
SOOS - Salt (Miner, Seller...)
SZABO - Tailor
SZALAY/ SZALAI - From SZALA County (Old Hungarian County) - Sterling (Implies Silver)
SZANDOR - Alexander
SZASZ - German Speaker (implied from SZEPES)
SZEGO - Cutter such as Wood Cutter or Stone Cutter
SZENT - Saint --usually in front of the name of a saint i.e. 
SZENTANDRAS - Saint Andrew 
SZILAGYI - Place Name 
SUBA - Furrier (including Sheepskin Coats)
SVED - Swedish
SZAKACS - Cook
TAKACS - Weaver (Of cloth, probably started with linen weaving trade guild.)
TOTH (Sometimes TOT) Means Slavic or Slovak (And is one of the most common Hungarian surnames currently!)
TURAY - TURAN - Moslem
VARGO / VARGA - Shoemaker 
UVEGO - glassmaker
VERES - Red or Ruddy
VIRAG - Flower