William Penn Life, 2012 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-12-01 / 12. szám
Photo © Otnaydur/ f^llTiber's Take with Tibor Check, Jr. A Christmas shopping guide IT IS ONCE AGAIN that exciting, hopeful and cheerful time of year. Christmas is, by far, my favorite holiday. I must confess that at this time of year, I am little more than an ecstatic schoolboy. I still get butterflies on Christmas Eve, and I have trouble sleeping from the anticipation. Though often derided for commercializing a religious holiday, the Christmas shopping season is important for the national economy, and it is a unique opportunity to give back and really maximize the efficiency of our dollars. Starting on 'Black Friday' this is the time when businesses finally begin running in the 'black', that is, making a profit. This economic maxim is true for all retailers, from Best Buy to the small Hungarian butcher shop. Thus, Hungarian businesses and organizations are counting on the Christmas season to deliver sorely needed profit. If not at any other time, we American Hungarians need to support our own, and here is how to do it. I. Presents. When my parents returned from the WPA trip to Hungary, my siblings, my girlfriend and I experienced Christmas in October. The sheer amount of Hungarian, Czech and Slovak handicrafts my parents brought back made me wonder how they were able to lift their suitcases. But, no one needs to go to Hungary to find useful, unique or whimsical gifts with a Hungarian twist. There are several Hungarian import houses scattered across the United States and Canada. Excellent vendors—like Magyar Marketing and New York Pince-are wonderful places to acquire Hungarian gifts. I encourage you all to incorporate at least one or two Hungarian gifts for your loved ones on your Christmas shopping list. There is a literal treasure trove of Hungarian items available on the internet, but I must issue a caveat. While certain online mega-retailers (eBay, Amazon, etc.) are efficient, cost-effective and reliable choices for finding hardto-find gift items, I urge you all to spend with a social consciousness. Do a little investigation and try to strike a balance between affordability and knowing who benefits from your purchase. 2. Food Hungarian food is delicious, without a doubt, but I think a common misconception is that Hungarian food does not belong (or is out of place) at the Christmas table. I disagree wholeheartedly. Hungarian kolbász is a delicious complement to the Christmas ham. In addition, szalonczukor makes a tasty tree trimming, and csöröge (angel wings) make a welcome addition to the plate of sugar cookies for Santa. Be sure to treat your friends, family and guests to special Hungarian treats. Boldog Karácsonyt Kívánunk! 3. Décor At the risk of sounding like Martha Stewart, I recommend that you incorporate Hungarian items into the annual Christmas décor. You can easily acquire handmade cloth or glass ornaments with a Magyar flavor that make a great addition to your Christmas tree. In addition, if you intend to entertain this year, I encourage swapping out Dean Martin or Bing Crosby (at least for a little while) with a CD or record of Hungarian Christmas carols to give your get-together an Old World feel. Tibor II 6 0 December 2012 0 William Penn Life
