Fraternity-Testvériség, 1998 (76. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1998-07-01 / 3. szám
FRATERNITY Page 15 23rd ANNUAL HUNGARIAN FESTIVAL NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY On June 6, 1998, the festival mall, a half mile span in the area of Hungarian churches and organizations in New Brunswick, New Jersey, came alive with Hungarian music, folk dancers, puppet shows, fencing demonstrations, exhibits, delectable food smells, vendors, and thousands of visitors from far and near. It was the 23rd Annual Hungarian Festival sponsored by the Hungarian Civic Association (HCA) for the benefit of the churches and organizations in the HCA coalition. The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America gave support and participated in the festival. Representing the Federation at the festival were George Dózsa, President, and Albert St. Miklosy, director, as well as members of Branch 302. The Opening Ceremony of the festival included His Excellency, the Consul General of Hungary, István Kovács, and began at 11:05 following the ringing of the neighborhood churchbells. Recognition at the opening ceremonies was given to the churches and organizations in the HCA coalition observing special anniversaries this year: >- Bayard Street Presbyterian Church - 95 years >■ Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church - 90 years >• Hungarian American Athletic Club (HAAC) - 85 years >■ Széchényi Hungarian School - 25 years >■ Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble - 20 years Immediately following the Opening Ceremonies, the Hungarian Folk Dance Ensemble of New Brunswick gave its first performance of the day at the showmobile, and at the same time the sounds of Életfa Band reverberated throughout the festival area. (The Hungarian Folk Dance Ensemble of New Brunswick was invited to perform at the International Flower Carnival in Debrecen, Hungary, on August 20, as part of the New Brunswick/Debrecen Sister City Program.) The “Twilight Concert” at the Hungarian Heritage Center courtyard featured “The Band from Szaszcsavas,” a seven- member folk music song and dance ensemble from a remote village in Transylvania, on tour for the first time in America. For the children and the “young-at-heart” there were puppet shows and face-painting by clowns. The sanctuary of the Magyar Reformed Church was the setting for a performance by members of the 82nd Street Hungarian Reformed Church of New York City. The various exhibits included three at the American Hungarian Foundation’s museum: “Victor Vasarely - a Retrospective and Op Art”; Paintings and Drawings of Arthur Podolini Volkmann (teacher of Victor Vasarely); and Ceramic Figurines of Judit Jozsa, Transylvanian sculptress. In St. Ladislaus Church there was an exhibit of hand- embroidered vestments, which could be viewed as part of guided tours of the church. At 5:00 p.m., a Hungarian Mass was celebrated. All food areas opened at 11:30 a.m. and offered Hungarian food specialties from the following menu: chicken Hungarian Scout Folk Dance Ensemble of New Brunswick.
