William Penn Life, 2012 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-08-01 / 8. szám
The Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio Come, all you Hungarians, often to this house Come, who roam in this big world Far from your native land, far in the foreign lands And your fate, no matter how cruel, Brotherly understanding hearts you will find here Among foreign souls. This house is your own native land. - Szécskay György (Translated by Katherina Kékedy) So often I receive comments from the readers of Tibor's Take saying: "There just aren't any good picnics like I used to go to years ago"; or "The Hungarian dances around my neck of the woods have a DJ and some poor excuse for Magyar food"; or "A dance I attended was Magyar in name only-the band didn't even know how to play a csárdás!" Obviously, these people have never been to the annual WPA Picnic at Scenic View. But, that's just one day in September. Where can you go for a true taste of Hungary more frequently? Well, there is a place, an oasis of sorts...a place that is like going back in time to 1958 or so...where the music is performed live and in the style of Hungarians...where, if you eavesdrop on any conversation, the subject will revolve around Magyar costumes, food or dancing. The place I am talking about is the Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio in Hiram, Ohio. A first-time visitor to the Cultural Center can be overwhelmed by the beauty and spaciousness of this 40-plusacre facility. As you drive down the entrance way from Abbott Road, signs welcoming you to the facility are just an early sampling of what is in store for you. As you enter the parking area, the huge hand-carved wooden gate—a Szekely Kapu—invites guests to become part of the large Magyar family of the club. The kapu is an enormous artwork that could easily be displayed in a museum. It was created in 2006 by a master woodcarver from the Erdély Opposite Page: At left, the sörház (beer house) is a popular destination during the Cultural Center’s summer picnics. At right, reminders of the great \ Hungarian neighborhoods in and around Cleveland adorn the posts of the csárdás ház. 12 William August 2012 The Cultural Center will be hosting two more picnics this summer. The next picnic will be held Aug. 19 with music by Harmonia and will commemorate St. Stephen's Day. The final picnic of the year—the Fall Festival—will be held Sept. 9 featuring music by Alex Udvary from Chicago and dancers from the Hungarian Scouts Regös troop and St. Elizabeth's festival dancers. All photos by Erzi Gulyas-Lewis This Page: Guests to the Hungarian Cultural Center enter the grounds through this giant, hand-carved gate (a kapu). At top, the sign that welcomes guests to the dance pavilion. At bottom, members of the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Dancers prepare for a performance at the Cultural Center. region of Romania, Adorjani Gergely of Geges. In making the kapu, he used the wood from the very same grove of trees that cool off the Magyar dancers on a hot summer afternoon. This structure in itself is worth a trip to Hiram, Ohio. Once through the kapu, a leisurely stroll around the grounds reveals several meticulously maintained flower gardens. One also notices the canopy of tall maples that blankets the picnic grove in shade. Soon, you begin to detect the interspersed aromas of cooking onions, garlic, smoky meats and sweet pastries. The music is live and Hungarian. Listen to the music of Udvary, Bátyi, Harmonia The Hungarians or Cerjak. Don't be surprised to see and hear, nestled under the trees, strolling violinists or a cimbalom player waiting for you to request a special song. You can see Magyar dancers in full folklore costume. You can be part of a Gypsy wedding or try to steal some grapes at the Fall Festival.
