Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-05-01 / 9. szám
A CONGRESS OF HUNGARIANS the 44th annual Cleveland get- together by Erika Papp Faber Erika Papp Faber with Dr. Gyula Nádas(X), Dr. János Nádas, and Lél Somogyi. On the right the Árpád Academy Gold Medal In what has become a Hungarian Thanksgiving tradition, between two and three hundred people gathered November 25th to the 28th, 2004, at the Sheraton Cleveland City Center Hotel for the 44th annual Hungarian Congress. They came from all over, from Hungary, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada - from New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut - (from Ohio, of course). The Congress was officially opened by 99-year old Dr. Gyula Nádas. It was his brother János and sister Rózsa (both now deceased), who, 50 years ago, set up the Hungarian Association (Magyar Társaság), which organizes this annual gathering. One could attend presentations on topics as varied as "Conditions in Sub- Carpathia: the Status of the Hungarian Minority"; "Instruction in Watercolor Painting"; "The Battle for Budapest 1944/45"; "The Crisis of Our Age and Original Sin"; "Cultural Differences Between America and Hungary"; "Hungarian Fortresses and Castles"; "The Development of the Gulag Slave Labor Camps". A student and young adult program, followed by a reception, took place on Friday evening, with Dr. Antal Bejczy, the "Father of Space Robotics", speaking about the latest news from Mars. Those from the Bridgeport area would have recognized the film "Looking for Wordin Avenue", which was also posted among the films to be shown. The exhibit of the historic time-line, showing Hungarian and world events would also have been familiar. (This was the same exhibit that had been on display at the Fairfield Library in the spring of 2001.) Many Congress participants commented on it. It has now been donated to the Hungarian Museum in Passaic, NJ. A replica of the holy crown of St. Stephen was on display at the meeting of the Order of Szt. László. Professor Tivadar Ágotha, who as a seminarian was arrested by the ÁVO and sentenced to six years in a coal mine, and is now a professor of history in Belgium, spoke to the members of the Order about the legal basis of the Holy Crown for the peoples of the Carpathian Basin. (His autobiography, entitled "Megalkuvás nélkül" - "Without Compromise" - was on sale at the book fair.) As part of the Congress' sessions, Prof. Ágotha gave another presentation about re-evaluating Trianon in 2004. A most enjoyable feature of the Congress was the Friday afternoon demonstration and food tasting presented by three Hungarian men chefs, (sometimes corrected by their wives, to the laughter of the audience). One made an appetizer of tiny meatballs, another explained how to make gulyás (and had a pot already made), and a third made palacsinta. A fourth gentlemen explained which Hungarian wines would go best with each of these courses, and the audience was encouraged to sample everything. The bulk of the literary and artistic program on Friday evening consisted of well-beloved operatic arias, presented by soprano Gabriella Lendvay, star of the New York Hungarian Theater, and tenor Béla Chikány of the Budapest Operetta Theater. They magically transported the audience back to the "old days", and many could be seen mouthing the words, nodding and smiling in response. Saturday evening, the traditional Dinner Dance was held in the hotel's grand ballroom. After dinner, the Árpád Akadémia awarded Erika Papp Faber its gold medal for her translation of Hungarian poetry and her compilation of an anthology. Dr. Nádas announced that the Academy would publish her anthology in 2005. Listening to lectures and offering comments, browsing the book and art exhibits, and renewing friendships, one often wished for the gift of bi-location, i.e., the ability to be in two places at once, so as not to miss anything. As it is, we had to contend ourselves with waiting for publication of the "Krónika", which will contain the texts of all the presentations. Once again, the Hungarian Congress flew by too fast. Although not part of the Congress, but also worth mentioning, is the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Museum in a covered mall down the street from the hotel. It is staffed by volunteers, 11 to 3 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and 11 to 5 on Fridays. It not only posts exhibits, but also offers Hungarian items for sale. (Old books are sold at tag sale prices.) It is currently also offering a monthly seminar series entitled "Food for Mind and Body", alternating discussions of modern Hungarian literature with instruction on Hungarian food preparation. If you're ever in Cleveland, make time to visit the Museum. You could spend a pleasant couple of hours just browsing and shopping there! CORRECTION Sincere apologies to Vera Willem Paulisinecz, author of "Napraforgó Emlékalbum - Gróf Károlyi Lászlóné és a Virág Egylet Zebegény", on which the article "She Gilded the Lives of Children" in the April issue of MAGYAR NEWS was based, and from which most of the pictures illustrating the article were taken. Due to an oversight, her name, and the great work she has done to memorialize "Napraforgó", the Countess Franciska Károlyi, somehow was left out of the article. I deeply regret this omission. Page 7
