William Penn Life, 1986 (21. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1986-11-01 / 6. szám

Christmas In Hungary

By Elizabeth A. Szabó Fraternal Director

There was a loud knock on the front door.

“Someone is at the door, Mother,” called Ilona excitedly from the living room. She pulled the curtain aside a little and peeked out. “Oh, Mother, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, come quickly! They’ve come to our house. They’re here! They’re here!

Within minutes the room was filled with boys and girls dressed in costume. Some children were dressed as shepherds, and others as kings. Ilona’s older brother Gabor was dressed up as Joseph, another biblical character.

In Hungary these children are called the Bethlehemesek. In English we might call them the “Bethlehem players.”

During the Christmas season in Hungary, the Bethlehem players visit the homes of relatives and friends, bringing to them the story of Christmas. Each boy and girl has a special part in recreating the Bethlehem scene.

Ilona watched as the players prepared a bed of straw for the baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph took their places near the manger bed. The shepherds huddled together in another corner of the room, pretending to be asleep. Janos, one of the shepherds, even brought along his pet lamb.

At last they were ready. Everyone sat quietly as the Bethlehem players began the Christmas story they all knew and loved.

Besides the Bethlehemesek, there are many other customs practiced in Hungary which are much different from our own.

During the Advent season some Hungarian children help their parents in making an Advent wreath of evergreen boughs. Four small candles are placed among the boughs on the wreath, signifying the four weeks of the Advent season. Each week, one of these small candles is lighted at the dinner table. A large candle is placed in the center of the wreath. This candle is lighted on Christmas Eve.

In preparing for the birth of Jesus, each child in a Hungarian home begins a miniature bed of straw for the baby to sleep on. Any good deed done during this four-week period means that one more straw can be added to the miniature bed. Of course every child in Hungary wants his bed to be the softest and roomiest for the evening of Jesus’ birth.

These good deeds that the boys and girls do are believed to be recorded by St. Nicholas. In addition, it is believed that he has been keeping a record of the children’s behavior for the entire year. When St. Nicholas pays his visit on the

eve of December 6, he gives this report to the parents. If the children have been good, St. Nicholas goes to the shoes that have been polished and left on the window ledge, and fills them with candies, nuts, and other good things to eat. If the children have been bad, a switch is left with which the children are to be spanked. Should the children still be awake when St. Nicholas appears, the report is given in front of everyone.

On Christmas Eve, it is the Christmas Angel who prepares the tree and leaves gifts under the tree from the Christ child. Only when the family hears the gentle tinkling of her golden bellcantheyenterthe closed room and see the beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

Christmastrees in Hungary are, for the most part, decorated with cookies, chocolate figures, specially wrapped Christmas candies, painted walnuts, and oftentimes fruits. Small white candles and sparklers add to the beauty of these decorations, and angel hair covers the entire tree.

The Christmas Angel does not wrap the gifts but simply places them under the tree. No one, however, is permitted to touch the gifts until the family has prayed a Christmas prayer together and has sung several Christmas carols.

After this joyous family gathering, the villagers walk

toward the church, carrying lighted candles and singing carols. At the church, they worship during the midnight hour, remembering again that night long ago in Bethlehem.

(This story originally appeared in the December 1966 issue of Highlights for Children. Used by permission of the publisher, Highlights for Children, Columbus, Ohio.)

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Holiday Greetings

From John F. Kenauiell, Executive Vice President

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As the Holiday Season approaches, we have £ our greatest opportunity to share our fraternal £ & spirit with those less fortunate. There are so ^ J: many who need help in one form or another, tg ^The elderly, handicapped, unemployed and £ H imprisoned are but a few who may need assist- Jrance either financially or morally throughout J: ^the holiday time. William Penn members have £. £ always been generous at this time of the year. & £ Let this year be our most generous in helping ä our brothers and sisters. *

£ It is also a time of festivities. Christmas Si % dinners, family and children’s parties — a time £ of sharing with friends. ^

£ As an officer of our Association, I am blessed £. with many invitations to Christmas activities, £ Si and it is with much regret that I cannot attend £ every function. Due to the number of activities £ pi in such a short period of time, there are many £. £ duplications. My brother officers and I promise Ü £ to attend as many activities as time and geo- £ graphics permit. *

£ To those of you whom we will not have the Si $ privilege of sharing the season with, please £ H accept our warmest and sincerest Holiday £ Greetings.

^ Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and may Si God bless you throughout 1987. Ä

Staff To Visit Mt St. Georae

A choir of Home Office employees will visit the elderly at Mount St. George in Decem-Several members of the Home Office staff practice for their upcoming visit to the Mount St. George Home for the Elderly. Here, Frances Furedy (standing, left) and Gerry Robinson sing a familiar Christmas carol to the accompaniment of Charlotte Mozga. (Photo by John E. Lovász)

Home Office manager.

Staff members are volunteering part of their lunch hour during the Advent season to prepare the program, which will include songs in German, Hungarian and English.

National President Gay B. Banes commended those participating. “I am happy to hear that this activity is being revived since it reflects the spirit of fraternalism that we are anxious to promote here at the William Penn."

Those traveling to Mount St. George will take gifts donated by the Home Office staff to the elderly there.

Any members or branches wishing to donate small items or cash donations for this purpose should send their donations to the Home Office in care of George Charles.

Useful items such as thank you notes, note paper, decorative items for walls or doors, plants and books would be welcome.

the residents at the home would also be thrilled to receive gifts from WPA members living outside the Western Pennsylvania-West Virginia area.

With your help we can spread the special kind of Christmas blessings that only WPA members can give.

William Penn Life, November-December 1986, Page 7

ber to sing Christmas carols and usher in the Yuletide season, said George Charles,