WINTER HOLIDAYS IN HUNGARY

6 December, Saint Nicholas Day

The tradition of Saint Nicholas Day, usually on 6 December, is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the Anglo-Canadian and British Father Christmas, derive from these legends. "Santa Claus" is itself derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas.

In Hungary children typically leave their boots on the windowsill on the evening of December 5. By next morning Nikolaus (commonly known as Mikulás in Hungary) leaves the boots filled with goodies (traditionally with candies, tangerines, walnuts, apples, dates and Santa shaped chocolate figurines), and small toys if they have been good. If they have been bad, 

Mikulás puts a bunch of golden twigs in the boot, indicating a beating is in order. (Most kids generally end up getting small gifts but also a small bunch of twigs.) There is no Mrs. Santa in Hungary, but Mikulás often comes with one or two small evil boys, called "krampusz."

24-26 December, Christmas

In Hungary the Christmas tree is decorated on Christmas Eve. In addition to the usual decorations, we also put fondant candies on and under the tree. According to the Hungarian tradition, the Christmas presents are brought by baby Jesus, although some families (who belong to other religions or atheists) follow the Santa Claus tradition, which was promoted also by the communist government that ruled until 1990.

Typical Hungarian Christmas dishes include: fish soup or bouillon, stuffed cabbage, 

roast turkey with stuffing, and the famous poppy seed or walnut rolls.

Beigli, the famous poppy seed or walnut rolls

The poppy seed or walnut roll is a traditional Hungarian pastry, mostly eaten during the winter holidays. It is basically a sweet bread, known as beigli in Hungary. During the last few decades other variants (such as chestnut, plum jam, prune, or even cocoa) have become popular, too.

EASTER

Easter is a Christian holiday, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, Jesus has returned from the dead three days after his death on the cross. Christians believe that Easter is the holiest day in the year, and is celebrated on the first Sunday, following the first full moon, and the first day of spring. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Chris by crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter. In Western Christianity Easter marks the ending of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline in preparation for Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. spiritual discipline in preparation for Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday and Ash Wednesday is not observed.


Hot Cross Burns

Shrove Tuesday – húshagyó kedd
The day before the first day of the Christian period of Lent. In the UK, Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day (or Pancake Tuesday to some people) because it is the one day of the year when almost everyone eats a pancake.

Ash Wednesday – hamvazó szerda
The date of Ash Wednesday varies each year according to the date of Easter. It is always six-and-a-half weeks before Easter. The earliest possible date of Ash Wednesday is 4 February and the latest possible date is 10 March. Ash Wednesday is a Christian festival. It marks the beginning of six and a half weeks of repentance, fasting and abstinence in preparation for the most important Christian festival of Easter.

Palm Sunday – virágvasárnap
Palm Sunday is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. On Palm Sunday Christians celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection. Holy Week is the week before Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Jesus' life on Earth. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Monday.


Simnel cake

Maundy Thursday – nagycsütörtök
The Thursday before Easter. Also referred to as "Holy Thursday" or "Great Thursday" in some Christian denominations. Is the feast or holy day on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with his disciples. Christians continue to share bread and wine as part of their worship in church.

THE LAST SUPPER: The Last Supper was probably a Passover meal – the meal which Jewish people share together to celebrate the time when God delivered Moses and the people from slavery in Egypt. The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Good Friday – nagypéntek
The Friday before the Christian holiday of Easter, that Christians remember as the day Jesus Christ wascrucified. On this day Christians commemorate the passion, or suffering, and death on the cross of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Easter Sunday (Easter Day)- húsvét vasárnap
The most holy of Christian sacred days. The day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from his death by crucifixion. Christians gather together on Easter Sunday for a Sunrise Service. This service takes place on a hill side so everyone can see the sun rise.

Easter Monday – húsvét hétfő
Easter Monday, another UK Public Holiday, has little religious significance but is the occasion for numerous secular customs.

Ascension Day – áldozó csütörtök
On Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross. On Easter Sunday, he came back to life. During the forty days which followed that first Easter, he kept appearing to his followers.Ascension Day marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection at Easter. The name 'ascension' comes from the accounts in the Bible in Mark's Gospel and Luke's Gospel that tell of Jesus being taken up into heaven - he ascended.

Christmas and New Year

Unfortunately, my kids could not come home now. On Christmas day I was at my old schoolmate’s, (she's called Panni ) in Sződliget. I went at noon and I came back late at night. There was a beautiful Christmas tree decorated very nicely. We drank fine wines and ate stuffed cabbage, fried fish and lots of cakes. Panni has a grandchild, who saw a Christmas tree first time. He’s 6 months old.
After Christmas we had two trips. On Tuesday we went to Star Hill (Csillaghegy) by suburban train. From here we climbed up to the Fox Hill (Rókahegy). From here there is a nice view onto Budapest, but the weather was very humid now. On Friday we went to Dobogókő by bus. On top of the hill it was very cold and snowy. We walked down 12 kms on foot and we came home by another bus.
During the week I worked on my family tree. My brother sent a lot of old data and photos by email, I had to organize them. I found a new relatives again. We will meet in person in January. My brother will fly from America to Budapest in January, too.
One day I visited my female friend in Sülysáp. Her mother is sick and she can't go anywhere, so she’s always happy if someone visits her.
New Year’s Eve I was home and had a good rest. I don't like the noisy holidays.
On 1th January I was on a New Year's concert : Mága Zoltán and his friends. It was very
spectacular and I listened to a lot of good music.
I was almost 10 days off work, but it went by very fast. I read books and listened to music a lot, It was busy in the kitchen.
My first working day was on Tuesday. This day was a hard day. I was sleepy and I had a sore throat. The time passed very slowly. The beginning of the year will be difficult, generally I have a lot of work. I need to learn the changed rules and I have a lot of
administration.

THE GINGERBREAD MAN

Once upon a time a there was a little old woman and a little old man. They lived in a cottage. One day the little old woman made a gingerbread man. She used currants for eyes and cherries for buttons, and put him in the oven to bake. The little old woman and little old man were very hungry and wanted to eat the gingerbread man. As soon as he was baked, the little old woman opened the oven door. The gingerbread man jumped out of the tin and ran out of the open window shouting, 'Don't eat me!' The little old woman and little old man ran after the gingerbread man. 'Stop! Stop!' they yelled. The gingerbread man didn’t look back. He kept running saying, 'Run, run as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!

Down the lane he came to a pig. 'Stop! Stop! I would like to eat you," said the pig. The gingerbread man started to run faster saying: "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man. As he kept running he met a cow. 'Stop! Stop! little man,' shouted the hungry cow, 'I want to eat you.' Again the gingerbread man was too fast. He came down the road saying, "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." The cow began to chase the gingerbread man along with the pig, and the little old woman. But the gingerbread man was too fast for them. It was not long before the gingerbread man came to a horse. 'Stop! Stop!' shouted the horse. 'I want to eat you, little man.' But the gingerbread man speeded on. He shouted 'Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man.

A sly fox came out from behind a tree. 'I can help you cross the river,' said the fox. 'Jump on my tail and I will swim across the river with you.' 'You won't eat me, will you?' said the gingerbread man. 'Of course not,' said the fox. 'I just want to help you. 'The gingerbread man climbed on the fox's tail. But soon the gingerbread man began to get wet. 'Climb onto my back,' said the fox. So the gingerbread man climbed onto the fox’s back. As he swam the fox said, 'You are too heavy and I got tired. Jump onto my nose.' So the gingerbread man jumped onto the fox’s nose because he didn’t want to get wet. As soon as they reached the other side, than the fox tossed the gingerbread man up in the air, opened his mouth and 'Snap!' that was the end of the gingerbread man.



Vocabulary

along with– együtt
currant - áfonya
gingerbread – mézeskalács
lane – út
sly - ravasz, ravaszdi
tail – farok
tin – tepsi
to chase - üldöz, kerget
to come to .. - érkezni valahova
to cross the river - átkelni a folyón
to get wet - nedvesnek lenni
to keep doing sth - valamit nem hagy abba, folytat
to speed on - tovább siet
to toss - dob, hajít
to yell - kiált