William Penn Life, 2010 (45. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2010-12-01 / 12. szám
Tibor s Take and the connection those items have to my American- Hungarian Heritage.) Every room in our house has a special themed Christmas tree. We have the Angel Tree, the School Memory Tree, the Red Tree, the Poinsettia Tree, the Aunt Jenny Gold and White Tree, and, my favorite, the Magyar Tree. Our Magyer Tree stands in our living room picture window. The tree that we cut down has the honor of holding the Magyar ornaments; the other trees are artificial. As a tradition, my dad buys my mom each year at least one ornament or bulb. This year my apa bought my anya a Pink Tree with a rózsa színű csillag (pink star) and pink bulbs and ribbons. My sister has in her bedroom arguably our family's oldest and most sentimental fa (tree). This little bundle of Christmas memories was brought over to America by my great-grandmother Cseh in 1916. Menci Kadi Cseh was born in 1896. Emerencia came over to the New World from Csőt, Veszprém, Hungary. In her small trunk of earthly possessions was this small rather Charley-Brown-looking/cni/d. My dad told me this was the only memento my great-grandmother had of her childhood Christmases in Hungary. The tree was always my apa's favorite family Christmas item. When my great-grandmother passed in 1971, my dad was entrusted with the little tree's stewardship. A few years ago, my sister Erzsi was given the responsibility of being the new Cseh Család caretaker of the tree. The day after Thanksgiving, we pack into our van and head out to Lakatos Tree Farm for our Colorado Blue Spruce. Now, mind you, there are at least 15 tree farms closer, but my apa insists that we buy our evergreen from a Hungarian. My dad had a special friendship with the Hungarian who owned this particular tree farm, Tibor Lakatos. They would partake in the consumption of Tokaji Bort. Salutations and dedications were numerous and most jovial. As both men dedicated the next round of holiday cheer to such Magyar greats as Franz Liszt or Lajos Kossuth, Mr. Lakatos' son Tibor Jr. would escort my mom and us three kids on a quest for the perfect tree. Of course, the tree must be cut down by hand and dragged back to the car. This is a tradition where the misery of pinchy pine needles and strained arm and leg muscles is outweighed by the fond memories that we forged. Most of the time, we would spend hours in search of that special fenyő. Often times, there was plenty of snow on the ground to make the trek even more difficult. My dad and Mr. Lakatos would joke about where in Ohio could you have not one—but FOUR—Tibors in the same place at the same time. Unfortunately, Tibor Lakatos Sr. passed away several years ago. Now, you may ask: "What is on the Magyar Karácsony Fenyői" There are several hand-crocheted mittens made by my great-grandmother Emerencia Vaskó Silvers that are tastefully woven to match the color of the lights, which are red, white and green. We have a white stag, a juhász (shepherd) and Szent Mikulás bulbs and the same items in hand-sewn and embroidered styles. We have several glass bulbs with "Boldog Karácsony" painted on the outside. We have vörös madár (red birds), snowflakes and several violins (hegedű). Each ornament is either made by an American Hungarian or made in Hungary proper. It amazes me just how many things my family does "Magyar Style." As I look at the various things we do for Christmas that are Hungarian themed, I could probably write another three or four columns. This Karácsony season, do something Magyar with your children, relatives or friends: sing "Mennyből az Angyal"; demonstrate how to make csoroge (angel wings); if possible, visit a Magyar pék or mészáros (baker or butcher) and buy some kalács, sonka (ham) or kolbász. Magyar Marketing has a full line of items Hungarian and Christmas. Look them up on the internet at: www.magyarmarketing.com. Boldog Karácsony! Boldog Újévet! Tibor II Tibor Check Jr. is a member of Branch 28 Youngstown, Ohio, and a student at Cleveland State University. He serves as host of the “Souvenirs of Hungary” weekly radio show broadcast on WK.TL-90.7 FM in Struthers, Ohio . Photos: Ornament (c) Dekede/Drcamstime com. Angel (c) Ozenina/Dreamstime.Com Let's hear your take Let me know how you enjoy my thoughts and views on growing up Hungarian Style. If you have any questions or comments about me or my column, please email me at: SilverKingl937@yahoo.com, or drop me a letter in care of the William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. William Penn Life 0 December 2010 0 9
