Szeklerland

Hundreds of thousands in Csiksomlyo

Csiksomlyo, May 23 (MTI) – Hundreds of thousands gathered for the Pentecost pilgrimage in Csiksomlyo hogback on Saturday. At the end of the pilgrimage, the participants receive papal blessing with full indulgence.

In Szek utca, which leads to the location, the several pilgrims walked towards the Csiksomlyo church and then they went to the hogback. At the head of the groups that march under the cross (so-called keresztalja), tables indicate the places where the pilgrims arrived from. In addition to the religious flags, there were several Hungarian and Szekely flags.

Before the start of the Mass, the organizers announced pilgrims arrived from the Philippines and Congo. President Janos Ader and his wife also arrived at the event.

This year’s Eucharistic celebration speech is held by Gyorgy Jakubinyi, Archbishop of Gyulafehervar. Pauline monks of Czestochowa, Poland made him a chasuble specifically for this occasion. On the front of the cloth, there is the Virgin Mother of Csiksomlyo, on the back side, there is the Black Madonna of Czestochowa.

The motto of this year’s pilgrimage is “We run under your protection” is related to the jubilee Mary-year, which was announced for the 500^th anniversary of the making of Csiksomlyo Mary statue.

based on the article of MTI
translated by BA

Photos: MTI

May 23, 2015

Székely flag to become legitimate in Romania

The Romanian General Council approved the bill on local flags with a large majority voting in favour of the proposal on Wednesday. The new amendment allows administrative units: communities, cities, and counties to design their own flags, however it is not only the County Council that has to approve the flags before the local communities display them, but also the Romanian Government, karpatalja.ma reported.

Both the coat of arms and the name of the administrative unit can appear on the local flags, but the symbols and colours appearing on them may not represent other nations’ symbols and may not outrage the Romanian national symbol either. Furthermore, the local flags are only allowed to be displayed together with the flag of Romania and the European Union. The violation of the law constitutes a misdemeanour, which offence may result in a fine of RON 5 to 10 thousands (HUF 350-700 thousands).

The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) agreed on the development of the legislation on local symbols with its coalition partners last March, and the Romanian Senate already voted in favour of the bill last autumn, thus it is only President Klaus Iohannis’ approval that is needed for its entry into force.

Earlier, Árpád Márton, the alternate parliamentary representative of UDMR, told to MTI that nothing prevents the administrative units from displaying their own coat of arms even on the Székely flag.

based on the article of karpatalja.ma
translated by Gábor Hajnal

May 15, 2015

National Public Security Strategy: autonomy claims are a public security threat in Romania

Regional autonomy claims and manifestations are permanently threatening the climate and the wellbeing of the citizens in Romania, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, published in the National Public Security Strategy for 2015-2020.

The document, published on the site of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was released to public hearing, and it claims that ”the dynamic of the criminal phenomena remains a permanent threat to the climate of safety and the wellbeing of the citizens, through possible threats like: manifestations of racism, xenophobia, extremism and other forms of intolerance, that aim to obtain the autonomy of certain regions based on ethnic criteria”.

The leaders of the Hungarian community have received this document with shock and immediately condemned it. Hunor Kelemen, the president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (DAHR) and the DAHR parliamentary group expressed their deep concern about the strategy, calling it “un-democratic and abusive”, releasing a statement saying that, the named element of the strategy is “offensive and it stigmatizes the Hungarian community.” According to DAHR the strategy is unfair and unacceptable, given that the Hungarian community has been promoting the autonomy of Szeklerland in a peaceful and democratic manner. “Romania cannot consider a source of danger, a threat the biggest national community living in the country”, declared the DAHR parliamentarians.

“This element cannot be part of an internal security strategy, because it questions democratic elements of subsidiarity, used in other EU member states. It is an abuse and a totally wrong interpretation of the rule of the law. If this element appears together with rasism and other things alike, it means that they did not understand the fundament of the European democracy”, declared Attila Korodi, a member of the Romanian parliament, from Szeklerland.

Hunor Kelemen, the President of DAHR declared that at first he thought the element of the strategy claiming that the autonomy desires are a threat to public security was a joke. According to Kelemen this strategy is a “serious breach to civil liberties, if the political goals of a peaceful community that uses solely democratic and parliamentary means to achieve its goals is being branded a public security risk”- declared Kelemen.

Photo: MTI

April 1, 2015

Szekely Freedom Day: commemorations and protests – Photos

A peaceful commemoration was organized in Marosvasarhely (in Romanian: Târgu Mureș), protest were organized throughout Szekelyfold on the occasion of THE Szekely Freedom Day, mno.hu says.

About a half thousand people gathered at the Marosvasarhely Szekely Martyrs memorial on Tuesday, to pay their tribute before the executed leadears of the anti-Habsburg conspiracy 161 years before. After the city’s mayor banned the pro-autonomy march initiated by the Szekely National Council (SZNC), the councils of SZNC organized protests in several other settlements in Szekelyfold. Deputy faction leader of RMDSZ (Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania) raised his voice against the restriction of the right of assembly in Bucharest.

On Tuesday afternoon, people placed candles and flowers at the monument of the executed Szekely leaders and sang Kossuth-songs in Marosvasarhely. In the memory of the martyrs, Csaba Kecskes Unitarian minister said a prayer.

According to mno.hu, SZNC would linked the commemoration with the demonstration demanding autonomy, but Mayor Dorin Florea banned it.

Balazs Izsak, president of the SZNC said the Romanian authorities try to show these efforts as a matter of law enforcement because of the possible affrays before 24. March, when the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities – operating in the European Council – will discuss about the pro-autonomy decisions of the local governments in Szekelyland. He invited every party leader to the press conference, but only Zsolt Szilagyi, president of the ransylvanian Hungarian People’s Party (EMNP) attended the event.

Instead of the banned Marosvasarhely event, Szek councils organized protests in Sepsiszentgyorgy, Barot, Csikszereda, Firtosmartonos and Gyergyoszentmiklos, where the participants addressed a joint petition to the Romanian authorities demanding territorial autonomy and protesting against the restriction the right of assembly in Marosvasarhely and the prosecution of the Szekely symbols, mno.hu says.

Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc)

Gyergyószentmiklós (Gheorgheni)

Marosváráshely (Targu Mures)

The document, which was addressed to President Klaus Johannis, says Szekelyland’s autonomy does not violate the territorial integrity of Romania, but it commits the majority of the public affairs to the elected boards of the community. However, if instead of the recognition of Szekelyland as an independent region, Bucharest integrates it to a larger unit, Romania would violate a lot of international commitments.

Zoltan Gara, president of the Sepsi Szekely National Council said: these initiatives were organized by the local councils. There were places where partner organizations also joined, but Csikszereda was the only place where every Hungarian organization – including RMDSZ (UMDR) – openly defended the protest.

In the Heroes’ Square, in Budapest, Szekelyfold Company commemorated in the anniversary of the1854 execution of the Szekeyl martyrs, on Tuesday evening.

The participants adopted a petition asking Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta to begin negotiations immediately with the representatives of Szekelyfold about the administrative status of the region, mno.hu says.

Heroes’ Square

The 500 people, who gathered in Budapest, expressed concern that the mayor of Marosvasarhely banned the protest against the administrative changes.

based on the article of mno.hu
translated by BA

Photos: MTI

March 11, 2015

Democratic setback in Romania: March 10th Szekler March banned at Targu-Secuiesc

A planned march by the Szekler National Council to commemorate the Szekler martyrs executed in 1854, and to manifest for the Szekler Autonomy in front of the prefect’s office was banned at Targu Mures, by the mayor of the town, Dorin Florea. The mayor justified the decision by claiming that last year there were incidents, and also because he sustains he already authorized Easter related events at certain key locations of the itinerary where the planned march was going to unfold.

What is more, he declared that he will not allow the march to take place neither in 2016, nor in 2017, and in case the organizers will „incite people to participate in spite of the ban, the instigators will be prosecuted”.

Balázs Izsák, the President of the Szekler National Council declared in reaction to the mayor’s decision, that the authorities did not officially signal any major incidents last year to the organizers, and in his opinion the real stake in this case is the state of the Romanian democracy, given the fact that after 25 years since the regime change, Szeklers are being obstructed and prevented from freely manifesting and protesting and that in itself is a major democratic setback for Romania.

Izsák emphasized that the legislation regarding the right to gather and manifest clearly states that protests does not have to be authorized, but only announced beforehand, and according to the law the authorities does not have the right to ban a manifestation. He considers the local authorities have overstepped their mark by banning a democratic protest.

Other Szekler leaders, among them Sándor Tamás, the President of Covasna County Council also condemned the decision of the mayor of Targu Mures, expressing his discontentment over the ban, declaring that he considers the backing out of the Szekler National Council from holding the protest is a mistake. “We should not back down, because protesting and expressing our views is our democratic right”, stated the president.

The ban resulted in Szeklers to mobilize and to organize manifestations in many towns and localities throughout Szeklerland. Many voices within the Szekler community strongly call for another major march of the Szeklers to be organized again this year, alike The Great March of the Szeklers in 2012, when more than 130.000 people formed a 55 km long human chain in protest against the government’s unjust regionalization plan and in support for the establishment of the Autonomy of Szeklerland.

March 9, 2015

Harghita county: 24 local council resolutions regarding the establishment of Szeklerland administrative region were annulled by the court

A number of 24 resolutions (in total there are 27) of some local counties in Harghita County were annulled by the court. These resolutions regard the establishment of Szeklerland as an administrative region, initiated by the National Szekler Council. The resolutions were attackedby the Prefect’s Office, who called them anti-constitutional.

The prefect of Harghita county, Jean-Adrian Andrei declared, that from a total of 27 resolutions, attacked by the Prefect’s Office, 24 were annulled by the magistrates. The Prefect motivated the decision to attack the resolutions by saying that the inititative regarading the establishment of an administartive region called Szeklerland is against the Romanian Constitution and such administrative territorial reorganization could be possible only if amendments are made to the Constitution.

As for the other request of the resolution that states that Hungarian language should be recognised as the second regional official language in Szeklerland, the jurists of the Perfect’s Office stated that it is also anti-constitutional, given that Article 13 from the Romanian Constitution states that in Romania the only official language is Romanian.

March 3, 2015

Racist sticker in Szeklerland: „We hate the Hungarian race”

A racist sticker with the inscription „We hate the Hungarian race” was placed on the car of Levente Kopacz, member of the Local Council of the town Covasna in Covasna County. The sticker has been placed on the SIC car sticker that Kopacz has on his car. (The SIC car sticker is a popular one among Hungarians in Szeklerland, SIC being short for Szeklerland in Latin, Terra Siculorum.)

Kopacz says that he found the sticker glued to his car parked in the parking lot in the front of the building of the Covasna Police. He also says that he has no idea who put the sticker on his car, nor does he understand how something like this is possible. He refuses to report the incident to the authorities, saying that “if this can happen in the parking lot in front of the police, then it has no point for me to report it”, adding that he does not trust the police to solve the problem. However, we find it rather worrisome, that stickers like that, instigation to hatred towards Hungarians are being printed and used on the cars of Hungarian people who take pride in their regional identity.

January 28, 2015

War on Szekler symbols

The Prefect of Covasna County asks for the SIC sign to be removed.

The prefect of Covasna County, Sebastian Cucu asks for the removal of the SIC sign board from the Central Park of Sfantu Gheorghe, a sign that has been displayed last year in December as a form of protest against the then Prefect of Covasna County, Marius Popica fining the organizers of an event for 5000 lej, because they were singing the Hungarian anthem. The Prefect asks the SIC sign board to be removed due to the upcoming anniversary of the “small union”, when the principalities of Moldova and The Romanian Country (Tara Romaneasca) united to form Romania in 1859.

The President of the County Covasna County Council declared that ”while the unity of Moldova and The Romanian Country principalities is an important moment in the history of Romania, is it not related in any way to the SIC sign, given that at that moment Szeklerland had been existing for a long time already”, stating also, that the SIC sign board is not aimed towards anyone, but it is destined to draw attention to the double standards Hungarians are facing in Szeklerland. The president believes that behind the removal request lies the intention of ultra-nationalist anti-Hungarian provocateurs, namely Dan Tanasa and Ioan Lacatusu, both actively involved in instigation to hatred against the Hungarian community.

Photo: szekelyfold.ma

January 27, 2015

Regional flags in Romania: double standards against minority symbols

Banning the Szekler flag – In 2014, the situation of the Szekler flag worsened considerably. While in the previous year the Prefect of Covasna county demanded the Szekler flag to be taken down from local institutions, in 2014 court decisions rendered the Szekler flag illegal and ordered the mayors and the president of Covasna County Council to them them down. This in spite of the fact that in 2013, even the Human Rights Report of Romania, made by the Embassy of The United Stated in Romania mentioned the problematics of the Szekler flag in the section destined to the breach of minority rights.

The courts justified the decisions saying that the flag is illegal, because Szeklerland is not a territorial administrative unit, and the Constitution of Romania does not recognize regions. However, in other regions, for example in Moldova, the regional flag of Moldova can be displayed without any problem, what is more, the Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta was photographed at a public event holding the regional flag of Moldova.

These circumstances suggest that the Romanian state has a double standard regarding regional symbols, while the Moldovan flag can be displayed without being ordered to be taken down, the same principle does not apply to the Szekler flag that has to be taken down.

Banned: The flag of Covasna County and the flag of Sfantu-Gheorghe

In Covasna county more than 40 lawsuits were initiated against Hungarian inscriptions and Szekler symbols, among them the flags of Covasna County and the municipality of Sfantu Gheorghe. The Brasov Court annulled both the flags of Covasna County and the municipality of Sfantu Gheorghe. According to the President of Covasna County Council, these decisions divide the counties of Romania into two sections: two counties that cannot have a flag of their own, namely Covasna and Harghita counties, and the rest of the country’s counties, that can have their own flag. The president of Covasna county called this court decision a blatant double standard showing that the very same court that made the decision is situated in a building in front of which a county flag, the flag of Brasov county is displayed.

January 20, 2015

National Strategic Research Institute presented feasibility study of Szekelyland Airport

Kolozsvar, 2015 January 15 (MTI) – Jeno Szasz, president of the National Strategic Research Institute presented the feasibility study of an international airport in Szekelyfold on his press conference in Szekelyudvarhely.

According to the publication and the attached study, which was sent to the MTI, Harghita Airport could be built at the foothills of the Harghita, in the Cekend top, which is 12 km away from Szekelyudvarhely. The 2500m long and 45 m wide asphalt runway in the feasibility study would be suitable for receiving Airbus A320 planes or smaller machines.

The writers of the study concluded – on the basis of the data of Hungarian, Romanian and other European regional airports – – if the appropriate-sized area is available, the airport infrastructure would cost EUR 15m.

Jeno Szasz said the Harghita Airport study’s starting point was the Gyor-Per airport, which is 100km away from Vienna and Budapest and 80km from Bratislava. He thought an airport in Szekelyland would be essential for development. Cekend top, where the airport could be built on, is 120km away from both the Marosvasarhely airport and the airport in Brasov, which is now being built, MTI says.

Szasz said that they had meant this for a gift for the Szekely community and its realization is only can be imagined by a wide range of collaboration.

The study was presented by the president of the National Strategic Research Institute a week later than the Harghita County Council had also published its county airport development concept. The county government would improve the grassy airfield in Csikcsicso, in the neighborhood of Csikszereda so, that it could make a connection for small planes between Budapest and Szekelyfold. At the first phase of the development of the study envisioned by the county government, a 1,2 km long and 25m wide runway would be built.

According to MTI, Harghia county government announced on Tuesday that after the public debate of the concept, the Harghita County Council takes a decision on airport development. According to the notice, the county government had previously dealt with the Cekend top and the Gyergyoszarhegy airport provisioning as well.

Csaba Borboly, president of the Harghita County Council said that mutually reinforcing ideas were needed, because they did not want for highways in Szekelyland since it is a distant dream. However, implementing an airport could be reality soon, if there was sufficient will.

based on the article of MTI
translated by BA

Photo: MTI

January 16, 2015

Demonstration in Romania: Many hundreds of Hungarian sang the national prayer in Szeklerland – VIDEO

Hundreds of people were singing the Hungarian Anthem in Sepsiszentgyorgy and Csikszereda on Wednesday afternoon on a protest launched by the Hungarian Civic Party (MPP), Alfahír.hu says.

Participants of the events made it clear: they are tired of the anti-Hungarian manifestations. More and more people are gathering in front of the prefecture building every day: while , on Tuesday, 400 people marched in the streets for the call of the MPP, nearly 1000 people did this on Wednesdsay – old and young, locals and people from the nearby villages. They were waving Hungarian and Szekler flags and singing the national prayer several times.

According to Alfahír.hu, on the event, there were the Hungarian Historic Churches, the RMDSZ, the Transylvanian Hungarian People’s Party (EMNP) and the Szekler National Council (SZNC). However, Marius Popica, prefect of Kovasna county, promised on his press conference on Monday to reserve the singers personally, proving he admires the Hungarian Anthem, he did not appear in front of the government agency.

Hundreds sang the Hungarian, then the Szekler Anthem on the Szabadsag square in Csikszereda. Kalman Raduly, RMDSZ- mayor of Csikszereda said, it is regrettable that one has to protest against anti-Hungarian actions on the 25th anniversary of the Timisoara Revolution. The representatives of the Csikszereda consulate of Hungary also participated in the event.

based on the articleof Alfahír.hu
translated by BA

December 20, 2014

Mikó case in Romania: Attila Markó Is a Freejack

According to Krónika Online, Attila Markó – MP of the RMDSZ in Romania – , can be arrested, because of accusation of abuse of office in relation to a property case.

However, the House of Representatives approved the requests of the National Anti-Corruption Department (DNA) in connection to Markó, this lower house denied the withdrawal of the immunity of the Liberal Democrat Cătălin Teodorescu, who is affected in the same case.

Attila Markó informed his colleagues from RMDSZ about the case in a letter. He stated that he had not even been at the meeting of the restitution board in 2011. For the withdrawal of the immunity of Markó, 171 MPs voted, and 111 voted against it, so he will be the first MP of RMDSZ who will be arrested.

The DNA, however, placed under judicial supervision Teodorescu, whose immunity has not been withdrawn. Faction leader of the PDL group called her to resign. The representative announced that she would resign her party membership and ask the repetition of the immunity vote.

The pre-trial detention can be asked by the competent court, but it can decide so that Markó can defend himself at large, but it also can put him under house arrest.

During the parliamentary session, Árpád Márton, deputy parliamentary leader of RMDSZ denounced the Romanian judiciary and he pointed out in the connection of Markó the voting was about an innocent man who was not even at the ominous meeting. According to him, the „independent” Romanina justic system decided about the re-nationalization of a property, which belonged to the Reformed Church and convicted three people who acted lawfully – referring to the case of the College of Saint George Szekely Miko. Márton added, that the Romanian system wants to bring back the police state.

The current restitution case against Markó is the same in connection to DNA placed in custody Alina Bica, Attorney General of the Department of Anti- Organized Crime and Anti-Terror (DIICOT).

The case in question occured in 2011, when the restitution board discussed the case of a 13-acre plot in Bucharest, which was required by a businessman named Gheorghe Stelian. Finally, a compensation was awarded, but as it turned out the plot was valued at a multiple of its real value, so the board assessed the amount of the compensation according to it, therefore the state suffered loss.

Markó was not present at the voting in Wednesday, but he did not answered Krónika, but he said he had not beent at that board meeting in 2011. He said that the DNA had not informed him about the case before his arrest. He thinks that the aim of the Mikó and the Bica case is to put and end to the restitutions in Romania.

Attila Markó was born in 1968 in Brasso. He studied at ELTE and he earned lawyer and politologist degrees. He started his political career in RMDSZ and he held various positions. In 2012, he ran as an MP candidate and he got elected. He was given a 3- year suspended sentence. The Hungarian Reformed Churched stood by Markó and expressed its solidarity.

based on the article of Krónika Online
translated by BA

Photo: erdely.ma

December 8, 2014

Szekler National Eleven to Debut on Home Ground

Budapest, August 11 (MTI) – The national eleven of Szeklerland, a region in central Romania, will play its first home match against Transcarpathia in Odorheiu Secuiesc (Szekelyudvarhely) on Saturday, the Szekler Football Association said.

In a statement sent to MTI on Monday, the association stressed the amateur, non-political nature of the initiative. The team is patronised by Laszlo Boloni, a one-time mainstay of Romania’s national eleven, Jeno Buzanszky, the last surviving member of Hungary’s Golden Team, and Franciscan friar Csaba Bojte, who founded a network of orphanages in Romania.

The team made its debut against Debrecen, Hungary’s champion, in July.

The Szekler Football Association joined the N.F.-Board, a federation of football associations representing nations, dependencies, unrecognized states, minorities, stateless peoples, regions and micronations not affiliated to FIFA, in February.

Visit them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/szekelyfold.labdarugoegyesulet

August 12, 2014

“Csíksomlyói Búcsú” – Exclusive Photo Gallery

“Csíksomlyói Búcsú” is the largest catholic celebration of the year for Hungarians. Yesterday hundreds of thousands of Hungarians gathered to be together on the occasion of Pentecost. Here you can see the exclusive Photo Gallery with 34 pictures:

Photo: Daily News Hungary

June 8, 2014

Prince Charles Dancing For Folklore Music In Szeklerland

Charles, the Prince of Wales was visited Transylvania and he tried the Hungarian “pálinka” and the chimney cake and he was dancing for the music of the Heveder Band – itthon.ma reported.

During his visit in his real estate in Zalánpatak (Valea Zalanului) the duke went out to meet and get acquainted with the locals. He was an invited guest in one of the houses in the village where he could taste and try the local drinks and meals.

According to Romanian TV news, Prince Charles also visited that Szekler flower garden which was given as a gift to the youngest member of the British royal family in October. Prince George, the youngest member of the British royal family received this flower garden from the family of Count Tibor Kálnoky as his gift of baptism. The Price of Wales is a returning guest in Romania, and often mentions how special the relationship is between the people and environment of Transylvania. He also thinks that this connection is unique and there is no other place in Europe where we could find this kind of close relationship.

The British Royal Family can boast with Transylvanian-Hungarian family roots: the great-great grandmother of II. Queen Elisabeth – namely Klaudia Rhédey – was born in Erdőszentgyörgy in 1812 and she grew up in the Rhédey castle.

based on article of itthon.ma
translated by Valentina Leanyfalvi

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/Heveder

June 5, 2014

“Csíksomlyói Búcsú” – The Largest Catholic Celebration Of The Year For Hungarians On June 7

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists are going to visit the Csíksomolyói Whitesun, the biggest religious and Christian event in Transylvania in 2014. This year the traditional pilgrimage will be held in the area of the Transylvanian town called Csíksomlyó between the 6th and 10th June.

Csíksomolyó is a famous place of pilgrimage of Székely-Hungarian Catholics. The historical event has been held since 1990 and hundreds of thousands of religious people and tourists pilgrimage to the “Csíksomolyói búcsú” to take part in the celebration. Each year lots of Hungarian Catholics take part in this big ceremonial event and give their respect before the Blessed Virgin Mary in Transylvania. A night Mass and vigil opens this enormous ceremony on each Pentecost Friday.

According to karpateuropa.hu website, there are special trains which take the passengers and tourist to the venue. The number of the special trains has increased since 2008. At present there are 3 different types of trains – the Székely Gyors and Csíksomlyó Expressz as well as the Boldogasszony Zarándokvonat – which carry the tourists from Budapest to the final destination each year. Interestingly, the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) and the Carpathian Europe Travel Agency decorate the trains with motifs which are related to the history of Hungarians. Train tickets can be purchased online or at the Travel Agency. Moreover, there are some packages for tourists and pilgrims in which meals and lodging are included in the tickets. Thus, those pilgrims who come by train could sleep at Székely-Hungarian families – as part of the country tourism – and get full meals during the whole event.

The event will start at 7pm on 6th June with a holy mass and then an all-night-long vigil will be held in the Pilgrim Church in Csíksomlyó. The event will be continued with confessions and holy masses on Saturday morning. The climax of the event is the Ceremonial Holy Mass which will be held at “Hármashalom oltár” from 12:30 on Saturday. The “Hármashalom oltár” is a venue in the saddle between the mountains of “Kissomlyó” and “Nagysomlyó”.

After the big Holy Mass night vigils and holy masses will continuously be held in the Pilgrim Church in Csíksomlyó. The “Csíksomolyó Farewell and Pilgrim” officially finishes with the Holy Mass on Sunday morning and with the departure of the groups of pilgrims and tourists. However, on Monday and Tuesday (9th-10th June) holy masses will be held three times a day at the Pilgrim Church.

The “Csíksomlyói búcsú” program will take place from 6th June to 10th June and lots of travel agencies and websites organize special tickets for the ceremony which includes the transport, meals and lodging as well.

For those who would like to travel there by car and spend one or two days only in this wonderful place it’s highly recommended to watch the roads and traffic changes carefully sduring the whole event.

based on article of szekelyfoldiinfo.ro, karpateuropa.hu
translated by Valentina Leanyfalvi

Photo: Daily News Hungary

May 30, 2014

Prince Charles Is Visiting Szeklerland

According to mediafax and szekelyhon.ro websites, Prince Charles has already arrived to Transylvania for a private visit.

The private jet of the British heir Crown prince landed on Marosvásarhely airport on Tuesday afternoon. Prince Charles travelled to the village in the province Brassó called Viscri where he checked and visited his private country house. Then he went to Miklósvár to spend the night at the grof Tibor Kálnoky’s residence.

Székelyhon.ro and the mediafax news agency also noted that the duke was going to travel to Zalanpatak (Valea Zalanului). Interestingly, in this village he has a real estate with several buildings where he keeps animals such as mangalica and naked-neck chickens.

The Price of Wales is a returning guest in Romania; last June he was in Transylvania then after spending a couple of days in Zalánpatak he went to Bucharest where he had a meeting with Prime Minister Victor Ponta and President Traian Basescu.

Moreover, the duke often mentions how special the relationship is between the people and environment of Transylvania. He also thinks that this connection is unique and there is no other place in Europe where we could find this kind of close relationship.

Interestingly, the British Royal Family can boast with Transylvanian-Hungarian family roots: the great-great grandmother of II. Queen Elisabeth – namely Klaudia Rhédey – was born in Erdőszentgyörgy in 1812 and she grew up in the Rhédey castle.

based on article of szekelyhon.ro
translated by Valentina Leanyfalvi

Photo: magyarhirlap.hu

May 29, 2014

Thousands in Budapest demand autonomy for Szekler Land

(MTI) – Thousands gathered in Budapest’s Heroes Square on Monday afternoon to demand autonomy for Szekler Land.

Arpad Gyorgy-Mozes, head of the For Szekler Land Society, read out a petition and called on the Romanian government to start negotiations with organisations advocating autonomy for Szekler Land and to respect human rights.

Referring to the Szekler martyrs who revolted against Habsburg rule after Hungary’s 1848-49 freedom fight and were executed in 1854, Gyorgy-Mozes said that demonstration was to remind the Romanian government that Szeklers’ love of freedom and desire for autonomy is just as strong as it was 160 years ago.

The speaker vowed perseverance, and said that “we will be a stone in the shoe of European decision making… at each step they will feel the pressure and the pain, they will know that there is a problem”.

Gyorgy-Mozes referred to Romania’s earlier pledge to ensure self-government for ethnic minorities in areas where they constituted a majority, and warned that the country’s planned administrative reform would probably involve integrating Szekler Land into other regions with a Romanian majority, which would “eliminate the remaining institutions of Szekler interest representation”.

Simultaneously with the demonstration in Budapest, the petition was read out at similar events in 19 other cities across the world, including Targu Mures (Marosvasarhely) in Romania, Bratislava, Vienna, London, as well as cities in the US and Canada, Gyorgy-Mozes said.

Thousands gathered , Heroes Square (Budapest)

The crowd then marched to the Romanian embassy. Participants lit candles in front of the building, and sang the Hungarian national and the Szekler anthems.

Demonstration in Marosvásárhely (Romania)

Photo: MTI

March 11, 2014