SZERETLEK - HUNGARIAN VALENTINE SHAPED GINGERBREAD COOKIES ARE NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

Hungarian Valentine Shaped cookies are not just for Valentine's Day, but are also made at Christmas and for other evens.  Often of a honey or gingerbread cookie recipe, the decoration can be traditional motifs or quite elaborate.  If you're not talented with the icing, stencils are available so you can use some white powdered sugar over the set red icing.

This wonderful article from Atlas Obscura about decorating cookies will give you the full story of Hungarian traditions.

ATLAS OBSCURA - HUNGARIANS MAKE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GINGERBREAD by Anne Ewbank.

Excerpt: One of the reasons gingerbread is not solely associated with Christmas in Hungary is the popularity of these hearts.  Once traditional gifts from young men for their sweethearts, the hearts often feature small mirrors and the word Szeretlek, a declaration of love.  A girl might return the boy's regard with a gingerbread hussar, or soldier.

Image is from the linked article.  

Copyright Atlas Obscura 2018

CASTLE BUBBLES and A WHIRLING SOUND : ESTAS TONNE and FAMILY

WITH MY BEST LOVE

 

FLIRTING : HUNGARIANS VERSUS HUNGARIAN AMERICANS : A HUGE DIFFERENCE

I have it on good authority. FLIRTING is simply not the same for a Hungarian as it is for a Hungarian-American.  OK, I realize there are individual differences, but basically flirting as Americans know it doesn't exist in Hungary.

Consider these typical flirty things that Americans are known to do:

PAYING COMPLIMENTS - in particular about appearance.

GIVING GIFTS - especially gifts such as jewelry, bouquets of flowers - things that can cost money.

SAYING THINGS THAT ARE THOUGHT OF AS WITTY but not suggestive and never actual sexual harassment.

As it has been explained to me, the average Hungarian does not like gifts that are too costly or fussy in courtship. Something should be useful, sensible, and not a  "waste of money."  This ties into the fact that most people are on a budget, so it's respectful not to expect someone to go over their budget, or sacrifice, to impress you.  (So perhaps a live plant with roots or a package of seeds instead of a bouquet?)

Then, as for paying compliments, such as telling someone they look beautiful or handsome, well, Hungarians don't compliment each other much, so the most sincere a compliment may seem to be some outrageous attempt to manipulate. Besides there is a bit of an expectation that if you want to impress someone when you are attracted to them, you will care for your grooming and dress as nicely as you can.  (And let's face it that some Americans can be both clean and slovenly, such as wearing clothing that doesn't fit, or shows too much wear, especially broken down sports shoes.)

As for saying things that are thought of by Americans as witty, well Hungarians will note the irony in situations and they are also capable of telling stories on themselves. But Americans joking with another person as a way of showing interest or affection might mystify a Hungarian who could be sensitive to what seems to them to be ridicule.

Sadly, I think flirting is a lost art, but gladly, in my case since I'm a Hungarian-American, once in a while I enjoy flirting and being flirted with. Everyone likes to feel noticed and special, talented or especially skilled, and all good flirts include sincere and believable compliments. So it might be wiser to appreciate something about a Hungarian's accomplishments than their appearance.

C 2024  Magyar American BlogSpot

WOLF OF THE MEADOW

 

UPDATING LINKS ON THE SIDEBAR inc GENEALOGY

Since I've been blogging here at MAGYAR -AMERICAN BlogSpot for many years, some of the links and videos have expired and it takes some time to check them and update.  I've been checking links on the sidebar and replacing some that expired. Many of the organizations and locations and websites still exist but changed their addresses, mainly because they went from http to https (secure) sites. Genealogy is of great interest to me and my readers and I note changes to various governmental sites within Hungary.

My comments are still turned on and if you find a link or video that's not working before I do, please leave me a message!

HUNGARIAN-OTTOMAN WARS! CASTLES! HISTORY! AMAZING WEB SITE BY GÁBOR SZÁNTAI

HUNGARIAN OTTOMAN WARS   Settle in to read all that this website has to offer!

ADOPT A CASTLE.  JOIN A REENACTMENT GROUP.

ESSAYS.  VIDEO LINKS

Here's a little taste, a history of Szepes (origin of the word is Latin) Hungarian Ottoman Wars - Szepes

HANDSOME WOLF

 

Athaira - Csillagok Tánca (Celestial Dance, Hungarian Shaman Song) CELESTIAL DANCE

In this image we see the sun, the moon, the TREE OF LIFE, an image of the shaman with seven fingers....

HELLO TO MY NEW READERS and OLD! LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW ADVENTURES IN THE NEW YEAR

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

 

GREGORIAN CHANT FROM HUNGARY

Medieval Christmas Melodies from Manuscripts of the 15th century. Schola Hungarica Ensemble; Janka Szendrei, László Dobszay, leaders - So beautiful and relaxing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY PLAYED ON A CIMBALON BY ERZSI GODOR

EXCERPT:

The contemporary "concert" Hungarian version of the cimbalom was created by the aforementioned master Vencel József Schund in the 1870s in Budapest. The body of this instrument, which has a range of four octaves, has the shape of a trapezoid with sides of 140 and 95 centimetres long, on which strings are stretched. The whole is set on feet measuring about 70 centimetres. The instrument produces a distinctive and loud sound, which is produced by hitting metal strings with wooden sticks. The original, smaller and mobile version of the cimbalom from the sixteenth century, known as the kiscimbalom, is still used in the Balkans, Switzerland, Romania, Belarus and the western part of Hungary. This instrument is made almost entirely of pine wood, with a small addition of maple. In contrast to the concert version of Schunda, these cimbaloms are limited in use by professional musicians and usually do not have any metal stiffeners, which results in susceptibility to body deformation.

KURIER - HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL HUNGARIAN INSTRUMENTS

REVISITING THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH'S NATIONALITY ROOMS PROGRAM : HUNGARIAN ROOM

NATIONALITY ROOMS at PITT : UNIVERSITY OF PITTBURGH 

There are many rooms to visit featuring ethnic identities from those nations that were important to immigration to the Steel City.

Excerpt: The Hungarian Room features folk art designs and colors, especially so in the ceiling panels painted by a Budapest artist and sent to Pittsburgh in the 1930's. Repeated tulip patterns abound there and in the furniture's woodcarvings.

The windows show a timeline of Hungarian national birth, from legendary foundations to the seven tribes, all the way to 19th century artistic flowering of Hungarian voices in poetry, painting and music.