William Penn Life, 2017 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2017-12-01 / 12. szám

Photo of szaloncukor © Can Stock Photo Inc./jakahcs

2:00 p.m. and public transportation ceases at 4:00 p.m. so everyone can go home to celebrate. Only movies and theaters are open on the 26th, and there are no mad holiday shopping sales on the 26th.

5 The Tree. Christmas Eve is the most important day and is called Szent-este, which means "Holy Evening." This is truly family time, devoted to decorating the tree. Children are sent away outside the home while the adults trim the tree. When the children return and see the decorated tree, it's a grand surprise. The tree is usually adorned with lights, little sparkling ornaments that have been handmade, gingerbread (actually honey bread) figurines and szaloncukor, a Hungarian Christmas candy covered with chocolate and wrapped in silver, gold and red shiny paper tied with bows. Children and guests pull these off the tree to eat. Children are taught that it is baby Jesus (Jézuska) who has brought the tree and gifts for all, not Santa Claus.

My husband remembers his grandparents herding him to downtown Budapest to see the city's Christmas lights in order to keep the tree a surprise later that evening. The tradition never got old, even when he knew why he was taken away early in the evening to return to the annual surprise. Once he returned, a small bell was rung as a sign that it was Jesus who brought the tree and gifts. Then, the children sang traditional Hungarian Christmas carols before they received their gifts.

Ö Christmas Dinner. When the excitement around the Christmas tree is over, the family moves to the dinner table that is beautifully set for a festive meal. The main Christmas meal, eaten that evening, includes fish (often fish soup called Halászlé which is made with white fish, carp or other freshwater fish). Turkey is the main course, served with stuffed cabbage containing rice, minced pork, onion, garlic and herbs and served with a special kind of poppy bread or cake called Beigli. Gingerbread is also a tradition, but it is wrapped in very bright colored wrappers and decorated with Christmas figures. Several Hungarian wines accompany dinner as well.

7 Bethlehem. Following dinner, young boys go from house to house carrying a small nativity scene, and they perform a short pastoral play about the birth of Jesus. While living in the village of Szentkirályszabadja, my husband remembers hand making his small nativity scene and taking it throughout the neighborhood. After singing

carols, he received a drink at each home, a welcome present because it was so cold and snowy. He also remembers how his visit cheered the residents who were so isolated in the small village.

8 Gifts. Following dinner and the reenactment of Jesus' birth, the presents, which have been brought by Jesus, are opened. For adults, it is often Tokaj wine or pálinka (homemade brandy). For women, dolls dressed in Hungarian folk costumes, embroidered linens, paprika, (the national spice) or a piece of Herend porcelain are all appropriate, and children's wish lists are often met.

0 Church Services. The midnight Mass is very popular, and most people attend after their Christmas meal and gift exchanging are complete. There, they religiously celebrate the arrival of baby Jesus with classical Christmas carols, the traditional Catholic Mass and the singing of the national anthem.

Although your holiday celebration may differ, we hope you will incorporate at least a few Hungarian traditions, keeping alive the heritage and customs of family members we've lost over the years.

In addition to a heartfelt thanks for all these customs we treasure, we hope you will be grateful for your WPA family that is celebrating many of these traditions along with you this year.

Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket kívánok!

(I wish you a Merry Christmas!)

WILLIAM PENN LIFE - December 2017 0 13