Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2005-05-01 / 9. szám

1 J—

Some Hungarian communities here in the United States are happy to remember the traditions they respect. On March 15, or the closest weekend to it, members of the community gather mostly at one of their churches and bring back the spirit with prayers, speeches, poems and songs.

For many decades in Fairfield, CT the Pannónia Club took the responsibility to organize the event. This year wasn’t any different.

The audience at the request of Dr. Balázs Somogyi, MC, sang the familiar Kossuth song.

This was followed by Judit Balogh, president of the Club, who welcomed the celebrating gathering and those who will participate in the program.

Before starting the program singing of the American National Anthem took place.

Then Rev. Dr. Alexander Havadtőy said a prayer asking for the blessing of the Hungarian people, the long history and the hope for a independent, self ruling better future,

Klára Zsédő recited the poem “Hazám” by Károly Szász

We were very happy to see Éva Látrányi, singer, who comes to celebrate every time with us.

For this event she brought along original Transylvanian folksongs. It was heart warming to hear her perform them. Then Imre Ihász recited the traditional poem by

We present the first vers of the "National Song":

Magyars, rise, your country calls you!

Meet this hour, what

e-er befalls you!

Shall we freemen be, or slaves? Choose the lot your spirit craves! By Hungary s Holy God Do we swear,

Do we swear, that servile chains We ’ll no more bear!

At the celebration the whole poem was presented.

The speaker of the celebration, Gábor Dömötör gave an overall insight into Hungary’s history. He underlined the importance of the spirit that filled the Revolution of 1848; freedom and independence for the Hungarian Nation. This spirit, az Mr. Dömötör continued his speech, is found in later periods of the life in Hungary. It has been in the soul of the people and it was there when the Hungarians stood up against the Soviet oppression and the communist rule.

Then the very talented young man, Tamás Wolff recited a poem from Sándor Petőfi, “Ismét magyar lett a magyar”.

With Tamás the younger generation took over performing more poems with the spirit of Petőfi. Dömötör Zsuzsa’s outstanding presentation of “Magyar vagyok”. Dayton Horváth continued with the uplifting “Csatadal”, that was broadened by Agnes Farkas reciting

Sándor Petőfi, the:”Talpra Magyar”. This poem was written for March 15, 1848. Intellectuals gathering in the famous Cafe Pilvax, first heard it after Mór Jókai’s speech. They were all so inspired that they left the Cafe, only to go the Lederer and Hackenast printshop. Here they put together the twelve points Kossuth demanded, Also the National Song and distributed the pamphlets among the people there and at the National Museum.

Judit Balogh Dr. Balázs Somogyi Gábor Dömötör Zsuzsa Dömötör