Magyar News, 1998. szeptember-1999. augusztus (9. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1999-05-01 / 9. szám
MAME OF THE DAY DAY OF THE NAME Name-days and traditions Recently I received a name-day congratulation from Hungary. As it is known , the Hungarians celebrate the name-day, in general, and not the birthday. Being somewhat accostumed to the American culture it is a bit strange for us to connect our name with a number in the calander. Anyhow, I was reminded of the old days and called some of my name-sake friends and they were all appreciative. To help others to catch up on name-days we will keep giving information on it with the help of Joseph Stiber. You should know that some names have only one designated day, then some have five. You might have to work on this. We will also try to incorporate the significant days of the month. These will give some incentive of doing traditional things, or as an almanach, calls for awareness or sorts out what should be done on a certain day. SIGNIFICANT DAYS OF MAY: May is the month of spring and naturally romance goes with it. The boys erected the May pole with the fancy, colorful ribbons on it, in front of their sweethearts home right in front of the girl’s window. Then the girls who flirt receive dead branch stuck in the ground. On the sixth is “János a babevö. ” That is John who stuffs himself with beans. Anyhow this is the day to put the beans into the ground. But with the seedlings one has to wait till Szervác, Pongrác and Bonifác passes because they together are the saints of frost. Then an other János, called Nepomuki, is on the 16-th. The fishermen and the boat people pay respect to him. On the thursday, the 13th, on Ascension Day, according to religious belief the consumed wine turns into healthy blood. Sick people were offered the wine hoping that it will cure the person and build his strenght up. In this process the people without any illness also join in. The saint of the vinyard owners and the cellar master’s is Orbán. On this day the duty of the ladies’ is to whip around with the broom to scare winter out of the house. All of these you could try at home. NAME-DAYS IN MAY: 1. / Fülöp and Jakab 2. / Zsigmond 3. / Irma and Viola 4. / Flórián and Mónika 5. / Györgyi and Gyöngyi . 6./ Frida, János and Zsóka 7. / Bendegúz and Gusztáv 8. / Mihály and Győző 9. / Gergely 10. / Armin, Pálma and Jós 11. / Ferenc 12. / Pongrác 13. / Szervác and Imola 14. / Bonifác and Gyöngyvér 15. / Zsófia 16. / Botond, János and Mózes 17. / Paszkál 18. / Erik and Erika 19. / Ivó and Előd 20. / Bernát 21. / Konstantin and Szilárd 22. / Rita and Julia 23. / Dezső and Mikes 24. / Eszter 25. / Orbán and Magdolna 26. / Ede and Fülöp 27. / Pelbárt 28. / Csanád and Emil 29. / Magdolna and Emőke 30. / Nándor 31. / Angela We will try to inform our readers in the following months, so nobody will be left out of the celebration. From 10 BC. to the end of the 4th century The western part of present-day Hungary is a Roman province, called Pannónia. First half of the 5th century The present-day Hungary is the center of the Hun empire. 5th to the 9th century Goths, Gepids, Longobards, Avars, and Slavs live on the territory of present-day Hungary. 896 The Magyars (Hungarians), a nomadic people, whose ancestors lived on the northern coast of the Black Sea, later in the Don region, then along the Prut and Seret river, led by Chieftain, Arpad conquer the Carpathian basin. 1000 The Hungarians, a pagan people until then, are converted to Christianity. At 1000 AD Hungary's first king, St. Stephen is christened, then crowned. 1089-1102 Slavonia, Croatia and Dalmatia come under the sovereignty of Hungary 1222 The Golden Bull (the letter of rights) is issued by King Endre II. This document is considered the foundation of the Hungarian constitution and often compared with the Magna Carta of England. 1241-1242 The Tartar invasion ravages Hungary. 1301 With the death of Andrew III, the House of Arpad became extinct and since that time, with the exception of King Matthias (1458-1490) only rulers of foreign extraction occupied the Hungarian throne. 14th century During the reign of King Louis the Great (1342-1382) the Hungarian kingdom reaches the zenith of its power. With the conquest of Wallachia and the establishment of the Hungarian-Polish personal union, the imperium of of Hungary borders three seas. The HUNGARIAN LIBRARY is accessible every Sunday morning between 10 and 11 at the Calvin United Church in Fairfield, CT. For information or appointment call Carolina Szabó at evenings at 203-268-6871 Page 6 HUNGARIAN RADIO PROGRAM is aired Sunday afternoon 1 to 2:30 from Fairfield University on 88.5 FM with Rev. Anthony Szilagyi.
