Gajakanyar (photo by masszogep)

Although the middle of February in Hungary shows promise of spring to come, here it is still the middle of winter. The enclosed poem about winter weather by Petőfi Sándor makes one wish for a “friendly, warm room”.

Here is a little-remembered World War II anniversary, but one that – for the sheer number of casualties and long-lasting effects – surpassed most historic battles. We are indebted to László Papp for recording that momentous time in Hungarian history.

At the turn of the last century (1899 to 1900), some 100,000 Hungarians emigrated to the Bridgeport, CT area alone. Consequently, there is still a sizable section of the population that traces its roots back to Hungary. They have much to tell us about those early immigrant days, and are a repository of local Hungarian history. Here is an interview with a second-generation Hungarian lady, born here in 1916.

Despite the “observance of convenience” which moves the remembrance of Washington’s birthday to the nearest weekend, February 22^nd remains the actual date of his birth. Here is an unusual – we might even call it a strange – place for his statue.

The original article was published in February, 1992 issue of Magyar News

Jézus bemutatása a templomban

February 2nd is about more than the groundhog seeing his shadow. In Hungary, it is a religious observance, but numerous customs and superstitions have also grown up around it.

No one escapes being smeared with soot.

The settlement of Moha lies 10 kilometers northwest of Székesfehérvár. It is famous not for its size – its population does not even exceed 500. Nor is it famous so much for its mineral water – although the medicinal properties of its „Blessing well” („Áldókút”) were registered as early as 1374. But today, it has become popular as the site of the Shrove Tuesday custom of „tikverőzés”, or „hen beating”.

Folksongs provide many clues not only about the culture, but also about the language. While this one refers to the state of the streets in Szeged before the end of the 1800’s, when the streets were finally paved, it can serve to point out some of the intricacies of the Hungarian language.

During the 1980's Claudia and Joseph Balogh wrote, edited and presented an informative radio series in the Bridgeport, Connecticut area as part of the weekly program featuring Rózsika and László, very well known and respected Hungarian musicians. The Hungarian Mosaic focused on a variety of topics of interest to Hungarian Americans and we are pleased to present another of these topics.

During the winter, my Mom would give several dinner parties. Our apartment was small, so she could invite only a few people at a time. She would decide on a menu in the fall, and serve the same dishes at all of them. The year she served slipped pancakes (csúsztatott palacsinta), all her guests gave it rave reviews.

This dish is easy to prepare ahead of time. Made with beaten egg whites, it is a light appetizer which does not take away from the main dish that follows. It can also be made as a dessert, without cheese, but using walnuts or cottage cheese. Jó étvágyat!

This story appeared in a Hungarian publication in the West, in the early fifties.

…that there was a Hungarian hero in the Costa Concordia Cruise disaster?