250th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

NARA ARCHIVES UNITED STATES FOUNDING DOCUMENTS 

I think of the 4th of July as the most American of holidays, of course I mean The United States of America...

FATHER'S DAY ??? MOTHER'S DAY ???

In Hungary, Fathers Day (Apák Napja) is the third Sunday in June, which is June 21, 2026. Today!  It coincides with International Father's Day.

Mother's Day (Anyák Napja) is also celebrated, the first Sunday of May, so the dates changes. In the United States it's celebrated on the second Sunday of May. (This is also true of Canada.)

In Hungary, people are not as materialistic as some are in the West. Gifts that are appreciated are appropriate flowers (often seasonal) original poems, traditional songs, nice foods, and little gifts.

The holiday origins are credited to Americans and the United States. Now Mother's and Father's Day are celebrated all over the world, but on different dates; there is no International Mother's Day.

International Women's Day on March 8 is celebrated in Eastern European and Balkan nations, such as Albania, which combine Mother's Day with International Women's Day.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO POST A LINK TO YOUR HUNGARIAN OR HUNGARIAN-AMERICAN CLUB or EVENT PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!

For events, please do so as far from the event than you can!

Thanks!

HUNGARIAN GOULASH CARTOON ; 1930

These days I cringe at the humor of violence in cartoons, but of interest to me also is that this one is called HUGARIAN GOULASH but I don't quite get what's Hungarian about it.  Can you explain that to me? If so, please leave a comment!

Cows, cats, monkeys, birds, mice... a gypsy woman?

This link explains it?  ANIMATED CARTOON CENTRAL FANDOM : HUNGARIAN GOULASH 1930

BORN UNDER THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM

 

THANKSGIVING IN THE UNITED STATES

A day that celebrates PLENTY.  

In the United States there are many Thanksgiving meals that are given freely at churches, homeless shelters, senior centers, and other food distributions or outreaches.

 

CROW EATS A WORM

 

NEW SERIES : HUNGARIAN CEMETERIES : READING DEATH RECORDS, GENEALOGY RESEARCH IN HUNGARY #1

Hello my readers!  

I've decided to post genealogy research tips interspersed with some reportage on cemeteries in Hungary and the history of burials. We'll explore a bit together and it's my hope that by the end of this series, you will know much more about this subject.

This icon of an casket being pulled to the cemetery by horse and special cart will stand for the tag Hungary Death Records - Gen Tips, and when you click on that tag, it will bring up all the posts in the series.

In recent months I've made the most of using church death records to go back one more generation when the paper trail available for birth/baptism and marriages is not enough. I've written about using "house number" studies, before, and that has certainly been part of my personal research too. It was a labor of love to spend very many hours culling the death records for two villages that referred me to yet another, as the land was split among sons and some tenant farmers eventually inherited plots. I put together family groups and looked for the common ancestors among them, hoping there would be a reference or remark on one of the younger children's marriages that would help me identify who was whose father - and thus the father of the oldest child as well.

Of course, it would be interesting to take a trip to those villages and find tombstones that clearly identify some of the people on my charts. If they still stand or ever existed.

Are cemeteries in Hungary much different than American?

If you're an American, your notions about cemeteries may be about the cemetery your family uses, or perhaps the ones in your area, some which may not have markers, or simply small flat stones to identify the graves. Or maybe you know of a military cemetery in which the troops all have the same marker. I know of a cemetery in Santa Cruz where the single people were buried separately from the married, and where a small spot was for the Chinese.

Grave yards in Hungary in modern times have followed a rather predictable path that American grave yards have. People were buried on their own farmstead or where they fell in conflict. People were buried around a church. Or in a graveyard in which members were of a specific religion. As population increased and room around the church ran out, there was a movement into "park" settings, in which monuments could be larger and artistic. The public were encouraged to spend some time and stroll around to enjoy the scenery, even if they personally did not have any family buried there. 

But what is different is the history of The States and that of Hungary, for unlike Hungary, we have not had World War I or World War II, on our land, nor have we been punished for World War II involvement by loosing two thirds of our country's land. Yes, we did have wars, including the Civil War, in which many fell in battle, but you know that was not the same as the Holocaust. 

These days...

I have mixed feelings about tombstone projects. I believe that respecting the privacy of the dead is also about respecting the privacy of the living. Genealogy is about the past, our HERITAGE, and those connected to the dead who are alive should have their privacy respected.

Maybe the information doesn't feel so sensitive until you begin to see what I consider violations, such as people being allowed to put actual death certificates up to match the tombstone which give cause of death and more. I was outraged when I saw that being done at a popular tombstone search site. I'm feeling that cemeteries and burials - the whole funeral business - is becoming outrageous in costs.

So many people today are choosing cremation because the whole funeral business in the United States is financially burdensome and cremation is less expensive. There is also that some cemeteries actually consider the burial space you "bought" to be a rental and, when no family member can be located or afford to re-rent, have been known to "move" (loose) bodies.

A few years ago I had the death certificate of a woman who died in 1920 in the U.S. in hand and called the cemetery identified on it. The person I spoke with denied she was buried there and even suggested that the family might have "tried to do the right thing" by showing up with shovels in the night and putting her into the earth themselves. !!!  Then there was talk about how the place had been flooded and an old employee would have to be asked since maybe he would know where the grave was. When I said I had the death certificate and was calling to know where the grave was because some relatives from Texas wanted to pay respects, there was silence. I was requested to send the death certificate...  And the same man tried to suggest that when the grave was found, a new marker be put on it, which would cost $20,000... I could not believe what I was hearing.

So my genealogy quest hit into a sales spiel. I sent the death certificate (which mentioned the name of the undertaker, a business that was still in business into the 1970's) as well as the cemetery) and never heard back...

Oh how I felt for that woman who had been buried there, who had died at 26 of cancer, after having given birth to two children and who was likely quite sick when she gave birth to the second one. I wondered when last anyone had visited the grave. But perhaps visiting graves is not something people do much, not even on Memorial Day. Perhaps even those graves with expensive tombstones or markers go unvisited.  Do cemetery employees notice which graves have been "attended" by family?  I think they do.

To me, $20,000 on a tombstone is ridiculous. That's better spent on someone's college education.  And so I do not anticipate burial or a tombstone for myself.

But back to genealogy. I also have a sort of reverence for the people who came before me and who I would not know about if it were not for the research. I always research around the person, so I can better understand the kind of life they must have lead, and with that, the kind of life span and death. The priests in the villages were very busy people. I showed copies of a death register from the early 1800's to a friend who is an anti-vaxer and said "This is a testimonial to the need for childhood vaccines."

C 2025  Magyar-American BlogSpot  All Rights Reserved including Internet and International Rights.   This genealogy series can be brought up using the tag Hungary Death Records - Gen Tips

BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN

In this blog, I suggest many places in the country of Hungary that are quite wonderful to visit.  I realize though that many of you have no money left after you pay your rent or mortgage especially, for travel outside the country.  

May I encourage you to consider your own town or area as the perfect vacation spot by playing the tourist there?  Or simply staying closer to home by taking a few long weekends?

I do think we need new sights and sounds and experiences to keep us bright and lively. Have you explored the history and culture of your area? Gone to every museum? Historical sight? 

I live in an area right now where the Parks and Recreation people are behind a great number of movies in the park and other activities aimed to keep children entertained. There are also cultural festivals ongoing though I'll admit lately I don't want to be out in the heat. Still, there are many places that I went once long ago that have probably changed in all that time, that could reengage my interest.

When is the last time you went to a public swimming pool?

Took a long walk in nature?  An arboretum?

Had a cookout or picnic?  Tried a new recipe?

Toured a historical site?

Seen some of your relatives?

Gone fishing?

May I suggest one day out and the next day in so that you can rest between adventures?

C 2025 Magyar American - BlogSpot  

ARE YOU READING MAGYAR-AMERICAN BLOGSPOT EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE NO HUNGARIAN HERITAGE?

 What brings you here?  Let me know what you think of my blog!

PROMISE

 

EARTH DAY

 

What can you do for the earth?

RECYCLE!   Teach your children about throwing things away in the proper places and reusing things before throwing them out.

When you hike or go to the beach, take your trash home with you.

HUNGARIAN AMERICAN ENTERPRISE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

 Here's an opportunity for you!  Internships, education, and much more....https://www.haesf.org/

The Hungarian-American Enterprise Scholarship Fund (HAESF) was founded in 2004. Since then, we have helped more than 400 high-achieving and accomplished Hungarians gain professional skills in the United States.

• To promote free enterprise and business development in Hungary
• To enhance the potential for personal contribution to Hungarian society by investing in human capital through practical training in the United States
• To build the framework for long lasting impact in Hungary
• To strengthen the ties between the United States and Hungary
• To create positive Central European attitudes towards the United States

WHAT ARE "AMERICAN SPACES" IN HUNGARY? THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES PROVIDES LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUNGARIANS

AMERICAN SPACES : UNITED STATE EMBASSY IN HUNGARY : EDUCATION 

• Educational advising for those who want to study in the U.S.,
• Workshops on a range of topics from career skills to English language learning,
• Classes and clubs introducing new technologies, 21st century digital skills, and academic resources,
• Films, discussions, and lectures on entrepreneurship, leadership, current events, international affairs, and much more.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

GATHERING

 

IF YOU THINK BIG FOOT MAY EXIST CONSIDER THESE WILD MEN!

WILD MEN OF EUROPE - COSTUME TRADITIONS 

Excerpt: Between December and Easter, tiny villages spanning all the way from Romania to Portugal become overrun with humans who shed their human form completely...

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..."

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.

MY SENIOR DOG and ME GO TO ROSIE'S DOG BEACH IN LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA

There have been some beautiful days here, spring days, with glorious clouds and views over the ocean. I feel I've missed out on another season of whale watching, which can sometimes be done from shore, but that I would like to do from a boat and not just a one hour tourist go-see either but one lead by a scientist from the Cabrillo Aquarium.  I also have not yet been to Catalina Island or any of the Channel Islands.  I've been so inspired by a wonderful documentary called West of West to go there for a few days at least, but have not had the opportunity. 

However, I was able to take my beloved senior dog to the only official dog beach in Southern California, which is called Rosie's Beach, in Long Beach California, not far from the Port of Los Angeles.  I had wanted to take her there three years ago, before Covid closures, and finally we got to go!  In that time, she has significantly aged, though she is not senile, she is old.  It was our first time there and her first time on sand, wet sand, and so close to the briny water.

We had to walk a bit to get to the location, along a nice path though, and with a breeze.  The sun was not too hot so the sand was cool. I'm aware that a dog's paws can be badly damaged by heat, such as on the sidewalk on a summer day. I took along her wheeled carrier to protect her from any damage and any overheat. She loves to sit in the carrier, with her little head up over the unzipped opening up top, and experience moving along because her days of actually walking or running this far are over. Trips like this help keep a dog's mind stimulated as it experiences different smells especially.  Any time I get that carrier out, she heads for the door, signaling that she wants to go.

What a scene it was at Rosie's Dog Beach!

First, the view.  Out on the ocean are oil derrick islands with palm trees which are permanent, and certainly an interesting way to sort of disguise the machinery. Not permanent, but there a long time, were a couple massive cruise ships that must have stopped voyaging a while back.  There were wind surfers in action.  And far down the way, a view of the port where the container ships come in and unload the box cars.  

I wasn't prepared to actually go into the water myself, nor did I think my little 12-pounder would dash into the waves, but we walked where the sand was watery for a bit and she sniffed some sea-weed.  Then I found a spot for us to sit.  I held her in my arms as younger and bigger dogs who were fearless in the surf (they must be Long Beach natives) caught frisbees and sticks, ran in packs, and seemed to be all smiling and happy.  A light brown mini-poodle, male, came around to admire my dog, with a shy grin on his face - I swear.  My dog used to have all variety of male dogs after her, including two incidents where I swear a dog fell in love with her at first sight, so I teased her that, though she is old, she is still beautiful.  I held my dog in my arms and who knows how much she could actually see, since she has one cataract that is fairly opaque and another one that is starting, but I do think she knew she was watching other dogs, a lot of dogs, bigger dogs, because she could at least detect movement and smell them.  I felt her little heart pounding in her chest with excitement. And I saw her smile too, something she used to do all the time, but less often these days. So I was so glad I had made this effort.

When I set her down in the sand, she did a peculiar thing.  She circled me and her carrier over and over again, within a few feet of us.  It seemed to me that she was getting a feel for the sensation of sand underfoot.  We had gone to a beach before where you can take dogs on the grass near the sand but not the sand or in the water, and I know that she likes to scare birds so they'll fly away, but I think this was her first experience of sand.  

Then she paused to see if the sand was diggable like dirt at a dog park, and how so.  She made a small hole in the sand and sniffed it.

Finally, she did find a place on the sand to lay, with her attention towards the ocean.

Finally I put her back into her carrier and we went back up the path, stopping under a shady tree where there was green grass.

I enjoyed watching the owners of the other dogs at the beach there too.  It was clear some of them were regulars.  How lucky they are to be able to go there and walk with their dogs frequently.

When I asked around before going, I heard that sometimes there are dog fights and dog bites and incidents, but we did just fine.  We were there for maybe a half hour.

I do hope we can go back again before the summer heat makes it not practical for us.

C 2022  Magyar-American BlogSpot