William Penn Life, 2017 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2017-12-01 / 12. szám
9 ways to put more HUNGARY in your holidays by Kathy Megyeri Christmas is a magical time for people the world over but especially in Hungary. Hungarians keep their Christmas traditions by decorating and focusing on children and the family. They hold Christmas markets where celebrants find all types of self-crafted ornaments, traditional Hungarian goods and local handmade crafts emphasizing family and their connectedness to country and religion. Such traditions make the holidays a special time to be with family, friends and loved ones. They help connect the many Hungarians who now live in the U.S. with remembrances of their beloved heritage. Although some practices have lost importance over time, there are many people who keep these traditions proudly every December. There are also those who would like to incorporate even more of these ethnic traditions in their yearly festivities. For them, I offer the following tips in an attempt to put a little bit more of Hungary in the holidays, all based on meaningful traditions that Hungarian-Americans have shared with me. Many are customs that they treasure and want to keep alive for their children. 1 Preparation. Beginning Dec. 1, children take blue and green crayons and draw a tree with 31 branches for the 31 days of December. Then, each morning, they cross off a branch to count down the month. This way, they know how far away they are from the end of the year. They also write a list or draw a picture of gifts that they want: toys, dolls, games, bicycles, toy trains, etc. 2 Advent. A Hungarian Christmas begins with the celebration of Advent, the preparation time before Christmas. Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas, and during this time, families decorate their front yards or tables with beautiful wreaths adorned with four candles. Each Sunday before Christmas, they light one candle until the last one is lit on Christmas Eve. Many Hungarian children also receive an Advent calendar that contains a tiny door for each day in Advent. One little door is opened each day behind which a Christmas picture is displayed. My husband, László, remembers having to write on each Sunday in Advent a list of good deeds that he completed that week that would justify his Christmas presents. It was also another way for him to reflect on the goodness of the Christ Child. 3 St. Mikulás Day. Celebrated on Dec. 6, St. Mikulás (or St. Nicholas, who is the Hungarian version of Santa Claus) visits children at home and in school. At home, they wait for Mikulás by leaving their polished shoes at the window on the night of Dec. 5. If the children have been good throughout the year, St. Mikulás will fill their shoes with treats, chocolates, oranges, peanuts, toys, books and other small gifts. If they have been bad that year, really naughty, they receive in their shoes some twigs, a sign of warning that bad behavior will not be tolerated any longer. If the children are small, a family friend or relative will dress up like Mikulás and present the small gifts in person to the children. When he arrives, they sing songs or recite a poem. Mikulás is usually dressed in red, wears a bishop's hat, carries a staff, brings a sack of presents and praises the children for their good work, but he will also call them out for their naughty behavior, as he is the one keeping track of good and bad deeds. The little presents might also be brought by Télapó (Old Man Winter) if no St. Mikulás is available. 4 Importance of Family. For many Hungarians, this is the only time of the year when large families get together, so Dec. 24 to 26 is especially important and is considered a three-day holiday. In Hungary, offices and shops are closed on the 24th at 12 0 December 2017 0 WILLIAM PENN LIFE Photo of St. Mikulás statue © Can Stock Photo Inc./zbig47
