Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Thursday, March 27, 2025
HUNGARIAN SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS - BOSTON HUNGARIAN CLUB
The Hungarian Society of Massachusetts, Inc., is a community of individuals of Hungarian descent, and those with an interest in Hungarian culture who, without regard to political or religious affiliation, and in accordance with their talents, opportunities and interests, support the Society and take part in its activities.
Our Mission and Goals
- Foster and impart our Hungarian language, culture, identity and traditions to our descendants and to interested individuals through programs, meetings and gatherings;
- Propagate Hungarian culture in as many American circles as possible, thereby developing and maintaining strong ties between Americans and Hungarians
- Support one another as we build and sustain our lives in America
- Cultivate and nurture ties with Hungary and Hungarian émigrés around the world
- Provide moral, spiritual and occasional financial support for Hungarian causes.
Saturday, March 15, 2025
FUN LEARNING WITH HUNGARICANA #6 : LIBRARY COLLECTIONS : GOING FAR BACK INTO THE FOUNDING OF HUNGARY AS A NATION : BIBLE FROM 1533
The collections in the Hungaricana library links are also useful for historical and family history and genealogy research. Remember though that these are mostly BOOKS that have been preserved.
Árpádkori okmánytár = Archives of the Árpád period
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Saturday, March 8, 2025
FUN LEARNING WITH HUNGARICANA #5 : DYNAMIC BUDAPEST TIME MACHINE : LAND REGISTRIES, CITY DIRECTORIES, and SO MUCH MORE FOR HISTORY AND FAMILY GENEALOGY RESEARCH!
HUNGARICANA BUDAPEST TIME MACHINE START PAGE
"The Time Machine is ideal for deep research as well as relaxation."
You will have to play a bit with this aspect of the Hungaricana databases. but for the purposes of this blog, we will look at what is available about a particular lot:
HUNGARICANIA : LOT 24008 1056 BUDAPESTHelyrajziSzam/24008/.
You see there is information as far back as year 1688 about this property. There is a topography map and a map of present day Budapest, showing the eateries and that this property on Iranyi Street is about a three block walk to the Danube.Thursday, March 6, 2025
FUN LEARNING WITH HUNGARICANA #4 : FOLK MUSIC TO LISTEN TO BY REGION : PECS - TOLNA SAMPLING
Hungarian Genealogy and History Tips in this series can be viewed together by clicking on the tab Pro Tip Hungaricana Fun
Monday, March 3, 2025
FUN LEARNING WITH HUNGARICANA #3 : PICTURE and POSTCARD GALLERY - CASTLE FUZER
Using Fuzer up came these images: GALLERY HUNGARICANA HUNGARY : Search word FUZER
Click on the image and you will be taken to more information about it, including where it is located or which person or institution contributed it to Hungaricana.
GALLERY HUNGARICANA GROF KAROLYI LASZLO
Gróf Károlyi László birtokán fekvő fuzeri (Abaúj m.) várromok
TRANSLATION : Füzéri (Abaúj m.) castle ruins on the property of László Count Károlyi
It also says that this was published through a book store in Satorujuhely and was taken by an amateur photographer.
Hungarian Genealogy and History Tips in this series can be viewed together by clicking on the tab Pro Tip Hungaricana Fun
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Friday, February 28, 2025
FUN LEARNING WITH HUNGARICANA : URBARIUM #2 : CENSUS/ INVENTORY OF LIKAVA SAINT SOPHIA CASTLE IN LIPTO COUNTY - AN INVENTORY CIRCA 1674
For this example, we will be linking to the following link which is found in the Hungaricana - Archives - Urbarium category:
Archives Hungaricana Urbarium Lipto Search Castle
The year on this archival document is 1674.
IN LATIN and then HUNGARIAN IT SAYS:
InventariumA likavai vár és birtokbeli tartozékai inventariuma, melyet Schultz György, Turanszky Gábor, Haassaeus Fülöp és Rady László kamarai megbízottak vettek fel a fenti napi, rózsahegyi kelettel.(NB! A leltár érdekessége az, hogy – eltérően a kor és a kamara szokásától – először a leltározott tárgyat nevezi meg, s utána sorolja fel, hogy ebből az adott tárgybólhol, mennyi van. Ez tárgyi szempontból áttekinthetővé s lényegesen rövidebbé is teszi az inventariumot.)
Smaller and larger jugs, pewter spitting dish, water barrel with iron tires. (NB! After each group is finished, the doors and windows of the buildings visited are listed one by one, briefly stating whether the door and window structure in question is made of iron, and if it is a door or gate, what kind of lock it has. For these he names the building - e.g. "portae ad Horrea" but sometimes he doesn't...
The Castle owners, the noble family of Hunyady, gradually reconstructed and widened the core of the Castle and built the part called the lower Castle in the second half of the 15th century. In the second half of the 17th century, the Thökölys' eventually finished the entire fortification system though it was of no use as it did not prevent the disaster at the beginning of the 18th century when the retreating troops of František Rákoczi completely pulled down the Castle in 1707.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
FUN LEARNING WITH HUNGARICANA #1 : CHARTERS : A WILL in ABAUJ CIRCA YEAR 1438
What does the term "Charter" mean? Modern definition: A charter is a legal document granted to an individual or corporation. It outlines the purpose and structure for the creation of a colony, city, or organization, as well as the rights each organization will have.
Charters in the National Archives of Hungary, or found through the databases of Hungaricana, are decisions made by the King or other authorities such as Princes, Nobles, land-owners/ Barons (including churches), or local authorities, about property rights, and may include information about grants, repossessions, and who is who. They also document wills, such as the one we will look at here.
Charters may not apply to your family or personal research, but it can be some fun to look into them anyway to see if any of the places your ancestors lived are included in the Hungaricana databases. It can be thrilling to find someone with your surname mentioned in a very old Charter, even if you'll never be able to prove they are related to you. With these Charters you can get a feel for the way of life and mentality of a time and place.
The Charters are from pre-printing press days when a scribe had the specialized skills of writing and reading. Nobles often remained illiterate and allowed the scribe - a servant - to do his work. Religious people - priests, monks, nuns - were more learned than most people, who were unable to read or write. As a note, sometimes just being able to handwrite your name was considered literate. Instead of a handwritten signature, some people, including notaries, used wax seals, often with the family heraldry, to indicate their presence or approval.
Using the Google (or another translator) can be extremely helpful when you don't know the Hungarian language. This is because the old, handwritten Hungarian (which might differ from more current Hungarian) of the Charters can be difficult but HUNGARICANA's modern language abstracts are sometimes close to word for word. You can go to the original document (some of which are in tatters, other pristine) and see if there is more information if intrigued by the abstract.
In the example below, we also encounter Latin of the early Medieval period.
I chose to search for Gonc (In Abauj County) because the now small settlement, which got bypassed when the railroad was built, was once an important "hustle-bustle" administrative center in Hungary and many Charters were entered there.
TITLE and TRANSLATION THAT WILL COME UP IN HUNGARICANA
DIPLOMATIKAI LEVÉLTÁR (Q szekció) • Kincstári levéltárból (E) • MKA, Acta Paulinorum (Q 312) • 13191
TRANSLATION : Milahly is the parish priest from Gonc (which today is named Saint Emerics) and he is a deputy. Gyorgy is a parish priest from Telkibanya (which is a settlement around the mountain from Gonc.) Antal is a parish priest from Deruska. (Goncruska)
ABSTRACT TEXT
ABSTACT TEXT CONTINUES:
C 2025 Magyar-American BlogSpot All Rights including International Rights and Internet Rights are claimed.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
FUN LEARNING WITH HUNGARICANA : INTRODUCTION TO A HUNGARIAN HISTORY AND GENEALOGY SERIES
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
750 MAGYAR FOLK SAYINGS : SOME OF THESE WORDS OF WISDOM MAY SOUND FAMILIAR
Paczolay Gyula : 750 MAGYAR KOZMONDAS
So many folk tales and sayings teach values, customs, and ways of life. Some of these will sound so familiar to Americans that one will wonder if the saying originated in Hungary or not. Others are clearly from a time when agricultural life was the norm.
The sayings about a good wife being a beaten one make me cringe.
But take a look at the use of the Hungarian language here: References to dogs, cats, pigs, goats, wolves, geese and sparrows, hares, ox - ropes and hanging, trees and weather, priests and Slovaks and Wallachians to discover the attitudes about life that made these sayings roll off the lips of the Hungarians.
Enjoy looking through these.
Some excerpts:
Okos disznó mély gyökeret ránt.
Amit főztél, edd is meg!
What you have cooked, you should eat as well.
You have to take the responsibility for your action.
***
Gúzsba kötve táncol.
He danced bound hand and foot.
He tries hard but has very little freedom of movement or action.
***
Szemérmes koldusnak üres a táskája.
A shy beggar has an empty scrip.
Friday, February 14, 2025
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
ALTA HUMAN ATLAS EXHIBIT at LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY - CENTRAL : MAGYAR DNA
LAPL ORG EVENTS EXHIBITS : ALTA HUMAN ATLAS running through April 27, 2025.
Excerpt: Alta is a social-impact art project that showcases 100 extraordinary individuals creating positive change across Los Angeles County. Each participant is represented through photographic portraits, ancestral DNA, and interviews that reveal how their lives intersect with the region—past, present, and future—creating a legacy work that documents and conserves a deeper narrative for generations to come about the city, its people, and its communities.
Each of them will tell you some of their stories if you download the free, interactive App. Storytelling is a powerful tool for preserving historical perspectives, and can often offer a more nuanced understanding of our complicated past. In a sprawling metropolis like Los Angeles, storytelling can also emerge as a potent tool to bridge divides, cultivating a sense of belonging that can transcend cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic differences.
Friday, February 7, 2025
HUNGARIAN ROSE LANGUAGE
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
SZAZHALOMBATTA BRONZE AGE TELL ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE : WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THE DIG?
Százhalombatta : Oh this looks like a very interesting way to spend three weeks!
SZAZHALOMBATTA BRONZE AGE TELL ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE
Finds from the site include pottery, daub, plaster, metalwork, moulds, loom weights, bone tools, antler objects, ground stone, lithics, amber, animal and occasional human bones. Many of the Bronze Age houses were burnt. This has resulted in outstanding preservation of organic material including botanical remains such as thatch from house roofs and Bronze Age food like crabapples, peas, beans and lentils. There is also worked wood and basketry. Thin section soil micromorphology, phytoliths, charcoal and coprolites add to the data from the site.
Excavation at the site is directed by Dr Magdolna Vicze (Hungarian National Museum), Professor Marie Louise Stig Sørensen (University of Cambridge), and Professor Joanna Sofaer (University of Southampton). Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Katharina Rebay-Salisbury, head of the University of Vienna team, is also our project partner.
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Monday, January 27, 2025
INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY - 80 YEARS SINCE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWIZ-BIRKENAU and CULT OF THE MIRACLE RABBI = BOLDROGKERESZTUR
For today's celebration I found this on YouTube... Please go to the link on YouTube to watch... (There are restrictions on the video...
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
CHAOS : WILDFIRES AND DRAMATIC CHANGES IN POLITICS HAVE PEOPLE ON EDGE : IMMIGRATION
CHAOS : WILDFIRES AND DRAMATIC CHANGES IN POLITICS HAVE PEOPLE ON EDGE : IMMIGRATION
As the wildfires have consumed enough property and acreage to equal San Francisco or Miami, we the people of Southern California, are very concerned about the economic future of this part of the United States. Looters, arsonists, and other exploiters and criminals are taking advantage, as are landlords who are upping rents as well as other swindlers.
But as the physical plant burns down, more concerning is the burning down of America in another way. Politics.
Lately, some people have been pointing out to me Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, a possible alliance between him and President Donald Trump, and immigration policy. They point out that Orban built "a wall" (actually a fence) and then mention the "wall" partially built between the United States and Mexico. This, and other supposed evidence of alliances are constantly pointed out to me and I sense what is wanted is a reaction.
Well, I have a reaction.
I tell people that Hungary has welcomed thousands of Ukrainian refugees from that war that Russia started and that Orban, in his role with the European Union, has visited both Zelensky and Putin. The Hungarian people have taken in these war refugees, mostly women and children. That Hungary is dependent on Russian oil and that makes things tricky. I tell people that thousands demonstrated in the streets of Budapest for an end to that war and for peace, but Hungary, being a small country, doesn't make world news much, so few heard about it. (I did from a Hungarian relative who lives in Budapest six months of the year.)
I tell them that two thirds of the Hungarian population were murdered during the Ottoman occupation by Moslem Turks (over 150 years) and that is why Hungary, founded upon Christianity (specifically an alliance with Roman Catholicism) wants only Christian immigrants. I say that between that and the loss of a huge amount of territory known as Hungary after World War I and the 1920 Trianon Treaty, Hungarians are still fighting for national identity.
I also say that there is so much attention on blocking entry into the U.S. from Mexico but none on the much longer Canadian Border. If I were a terrorist I would not bother with the Mexican border. I would have a boat sail me up the coast; maybe in the middle of the night I'd row ashore in Malibu. Or maybe I would go to Canada and walk across the border there. There are lots of places to do so.
I also say that Trump claiming God saved him from a bullet so he could save America was disgusting; is he now claiming the Right of Kings? Himself as Biblical prophecy?
I actually see no link between true Christianity and the Prosperity Gospel or the exclusionary "Protestantism" of people who want to "round up" immigrants, that it sounds just like Germany, in an economic crisis pre the Holocaust and the "round up" of Jews, blamed for the economic problems, that I personally am fearful that is where we are heading. No I do not want criminals entering the country. Criminality is not the same as people desperate for their lives and the lives of their children and families and we must acknowledge that. I feel the same way when I hear of "round ups" of homeless people. We are edging close to the "othering" that the Nazi's did to the Jews, comparing them to vermin rather than acknowledging their humanity.
Bigotry and discrimination and racism are coming back...
Be it the Ku Klux Klan or the Nazis or the Neo Nazis, NONE OF THIS IS OR EVER WAS CHRISTIANITY. Remember, please, that the Nazi plan was to exterminate the Slavic people once the Jews were extinguished and to keep going.
RELOCATION anyone? FORCED RELOCATION?
"REPOPULATING" Pacific Palisades?
Do I expect everyone to be "Christian?" Actually, I do not.
Do I know of illegals? Are they joking?! We have a huge "illegal" population in Southern California, and they are not all Mexican. Over the years I've met illegals from South Africa, from Jamaica, and Germany and Ireland, and yes - one lovely young woman from Hungary who chased love - many who came on a tourist visa and never left.
Also, this may shock some of my readers, but as a personal note, I have been approached to marry for the purposes of keeping an illegal immigrant in the country four times in my life. One Mexican, One Guatamalan, One Orthodox Jew from Israel (really!), One Indian from India. Approached on the street, in a store, or asked outright by a friend. Usually an effort to make me consider such a thing, which I would never do, includes an excruciatingly old fashioned idea that I should be ashamed to be unpartnered and would be desperate to join the overwhelming majority of married women. Or that my rent would be paid.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OFTEN WORK FOR CASH. Now tell me employers are not depending on "casual" workers who are paid cash? No benefits, no Social Security, no no no. Sometimes Americans pick up a casual laborer, work them all day, and then tell them to go f themselves, unpaid, under threat of the INS being informed of their presence: nasty evil people do that to them. So tell me, do you think so many would head here if they thought absolutely no one would hire them? Hotels - Restaurants - the Tourist Industry - Cruises - really big on paying cash or extremely low off shore pay.
I'm not FOR illegal immigration, I hate criminality, especially when it comes to gang violence and drug and sex trafficking, but ONE NATION UNDER GOD, must have some empathy for the promise that so many of our ancestors had.
So I ask this question, who or what is your God?
Is it MONEY? Which is IDOLATRY?
C 2025 Magyar-American BlogSpot All Rights including Internet and International Rights claimed.
I ask you to read this: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-niemoeller-first-they-came-for-the-socialists
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
The 1,954-mile (3,145-kilometre) border between the U.S. and Mexico traverses a variety of terrain, including urban areas and deserts. The United States (U.S.) - Canada border is the longest in the world, spanning 5,525 miles (8,891 km) across 13 U.S. states and eight Canadian Provinces/Territories (These came up re AI.)
C 2025 Magyar American BlogSpot
All Rights Reserved including International and Internet Rights
Saturday, January 18, 2025
ROWBOAT THROUGH TAPOLCA CAVERN LAKE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #28

OUTDOORACTIVE : TAPOLCA CAVERN LAKE VISITOR INFO
Photo by Shaambo ghosh - Wikipedia
One of the interesting aspects of this cave is that it is used for AIR THERAPY...
Excerpt: The special warm and humid conditions in the cave, and the typical factors of speleotherapy (Clean air and high carbon dioxide content) make this cave very beneficial for people with asthmatic and respiratory diseases. It is used for speleotherapy by various nearby baths. Inside the cave it is possible to swim through several passages, which are partly natural, partly artificial tunnels. There are small pools and jakuzzis, and a large outdoor pool.
More here:
https://www.i-s-c-a.org/show-cave/148-lake-cave-of-tapolca
Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to bring up all posts on this theme.