William Penn Life, 2011 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2011-12-01 / 12. szám
Tibor s Take My brother Endre II tries to stump the local Hungarian music experts, including Sándor Tollas (far left) who can name every Magyar tune my brother plays on his cimbalom. This year my brother will try to stump Uncle Steve with a Christmas selection from a book titled, "Christmas Carols: A Hungarian Collection." It was researched and translated by the late Elizabeth Leffler Szabó and the Rev. Nicholas Dengl, OFM, in 1984. This limited edition compilation of popular and seldom heard Karácsonyi songs came from the various Christian denominations found in Hungary. This hard covered book was printed to help celebrate the Magyar Friary's 90th anniversary. It not only contains much research, but also houses many colorful woodblock prints by master artisan Ferenc Bittó. (The Hungarian Friars also have published numerous prayer books, my parent's elaborately decorated wedding invitations and the famous "Catholic Hungarians' Sunday.") This wonderful volume of music and art should be reprinted. It is a must have for any Hungarian-American family interested in learning about our Magyar culture and history. Early December begins the baking cycle of a wide variety of traditional Magyar cakes and cookies. On any given day during the final month of the year, I can come home to a cornucopia of smells inundating the kitchen area. When the fragrance of hot percolated coffee mixes in with the sweet pungent odors of cinnamon, nutmeg and maple, a nasal overload takes place. We enjoy such taste experiences as hold alakú sütemények (moon cakes), csoroge (angel wings), kalács, kifli or gingerbread, to name just a few. We bake and cook a lot, but our family's holiday baking extravaganza can't measure up to the kifli/édes tészta repertoire of Cissy, her daughter Christine and Uncle Sonny. Their efforts give new meaning to the word "bakery." Right around Szt. Miklus Nap, Sonny and Sándor Tollas, (grand patriarch of the Tollas család) go up to Cissy's home along the shores of Lake Erie for a Karácsonyi cookie marathon. For several days they sequester themselves from the outside world and produce dozens of different pastries and cookies. Every morsel of sweet and savory goodness produced from this home bakery is designated for friends and family. The high water mark of their efforts is the creation of the family's legendary "Clothespin Cookies." My család receives several plates of these wonderfully crafted and flavored treats. My family is proud to be the longtime hosts of a Hungarian radio program, started in 1979 by my nagypapa, nagymama and father. From a broadcasting and sentimental standpoint, the Christmas season is one of deep sorrow and deliberation for me. The Saturday before Christmas 2003, my nagypapa Cseh hosted the radio broadcast along with my dad, brother and little sister. Although he lived another four months, that show would prove to be his last. The 28 steps going up to the broadcast facility of WKTL-FM were just too much for him. I remember my dad suggesting to him that we could use the wheelchair that was once used by my dearly departed great-grandmother Silvers to help him pull him up the steps just as we did for her 25 years earlier. Unfortunately, he in uncertain terms said, "NO!" Beginning the Saturday following Thanksgiving, and continuing to the Saturday prior to the New Year, we play mostly Hungarian Christmas songs. We have so many wonderful records celebrating the season. My personal favorite is "Hungarian Christmas Carols," by the Lakatos Sándor Zene. The album features vocals by Magyar singing star Sari Barabas. The violins set a mood for the holiday. For this recording only, the cimbalom player wrapped his mallets with aluminum foil, giving the percussion instrument a crisp, metal sound reminding one of a cold-blowing wind and snow. Ms. Barabas and her resonating soprano offer an angelic tonal effect to the songs on the album. As we think back on the "good old days," we must consider that these days will someday be the "good old days" as well. I have mentioned only a few of my Magyar-style Christmas memories. Each included simple, unrehearsed interactions with relatives, friends and acquaintances. Each person mentioned in this commentary unknowingly left a lasting impression upon my life and future. I hope you enjoyed my short trip down memory lane. Boldog Karácsonyt! / Éljen a Magyar! 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 WKTL-90.7 FM in Struthers, Ohio. 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 2011 0 7
