tradition

Carnival season in Hungary – Costumes and traditions – PHOTOS

Back in the day, having fun, dancing, and laughing were mandatory at Hungarian carnival celebrations. For centuries, the carnival season has been the period when people say goodbye to winter and welcome spring.

Read alsoThis is how Hungarians celebrated New Year’s Eve through the 20th century

Sokszínű Vidék reported that the cold, grey winter season usually makes people depressed, which is why they are looking for some fun to cheer themselves up. This was the main reason carnivals were born, and the old traditions are still alive in many countries.

The main ingredients of these carnivals are dancing, marching on the streets, and dressing up in costumes.

carnival, Hungary, tradition — *Photo: Fortepan (Tamás Urbán)*

carnival, village, tradition, Hungary — *Photo: Fortepan by Tamás Urbán*

In Hungary, the tradition of marching on the streets has not been developed. On the contrary, in German regions, people usually walk on the streets in their costumes or usually stand on a truck and throw some candies and chocolate on the street for adults and children.

This is called the Karnevalszug and consists of dancers, students, associations, and musicians.

Karnevalszug, Hungary, Germany, tradition — *Photo: Wikimedia Commons by Axel Kirch*

The tradition of carnivals comes from the era before Christianity, but today, it is a part of the Catholic Church’s celebrations. Its starting and final day are always different as the dates in the Gregory calendar change every year.

Read alsoRecipe of the week: carnival doughnut

Men often dress up as women and women as men to make the carnival funnier.

In the medieval era of Hungary, carnivals were extremely popular and were excellent events for getting to know people and to find your future husband or wife. This is why the main factor of these celebrations was getting engaged.

The most popular costumes were usually musicians, knights, fairies, princes, princesses, while others dressed up as a butterfly or a clown.

carnival, students, Hungary, tradition — *Photo: Fortepan (György Déri)*

child, student, carnival, Hungary, tradition — *Photo: Fortepan by György Déri*

For Hungarian students, the carnival season was also really important and usually celebrated in the school. On these occasions, the children showed their costumes, danced, ate, and had fun. As clothing stores had a small variety of clothes in Hungary in the ’60s and ’70s, children’s costumes were usually made by their mothers at home.

Read alsoThe 2020 Busójárás of Mohács is coming up!

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons by Museu da Imigracao de São Paulo

January 25, 2020

The 2020 Busójárás of Mohács is coming up!

Every year, thousands of people gather together to watch the spectacular and world-famous Busós marching on the streets of Mohács, Hungary. The preparations for this year’s event have already started.

According to Hungarian traditions, the carnival season has always been the time to drive away winter with noisy razzle-dazzle. It was believed that in the last days of winter, the Sun weakened and bad ghosts came to life. People tried to chase them away with noise and marry-making, or by burning a witch figure. It is believed that the tradition of the sokác people of Mohács (busós) was first mentioned in 1783.

Read alsoJoin the traditional Hungarian Busó festival in Mohács

The story recalls how their witty ancestors escaped to the Island of Mohács from the Turkish occupation. They put on costumes and returned on the river to surprise the superstitious Turks, who were appalled at the sight of the scary masquerade and fled from the city.

Sokszínű Vidék reported that this year, the streets of Mohács will not escape from Busós who dress up in traditional costumes wearing frightening, coloured masks to scare away winter and to have fun with the visitors. The Busójárás has been a part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009 and became an official Hungarikum in 2012.

Read alsoA recap of Hungary’s biggest carnival celebration: Busó festival 2019 Photo Gallery

Although the actual event starts in a month, organisers already began to make the necessary preparations for the six-day-long event. In 30 locations, visitors can choose from almost 80 different programs and activities while watching approximately 1,400 Busós marching on the streets.

These programs include dance houses, meeting with Busós and their special pieces of equipment, concerts of folk music bands, a commemoration of the battle of Mohács, folk art markets, workshops for children and adults, and several other activities at the churches and museums of Mohács.

The event starts on February 20, at 3 pm, and finishes on February 25.

Read alsoHungary – Historians discovering never known facts about the heroes of Mohács

Featured image: Daily News Hungary

January 17, 2020

Weird Hungarian habits that shock foreign people

tourism_budapest_china_chinese_tourist_hungary_selfie

There are many Hungarian habits which freak foreigners out when they first hear, see, or encounter them. These include the traditional Hungarian food mákos guba and the sweet delicacy túró rudi, or celebrating name days.

Magyarországom collected the weirdest Hungarian habits according to foreigners’ opinions. The first thing which caught their eye is the sweet delicacy called túró rudi, which is a Hungarian dessert: cottage cheese covered with chocolate. Without it, Hungarians cannot imagine their lives at all.

For a foreigner, it is weird to cover cottage cheese with chocolate and to eat it.

Read alsoCottage cheese and chocolate – the story of Túró Rudi

Another foreigner emphasised that, unlike other big cities, dog excrement cannot be found on the streets of Budapest. They believe that Hungarian dogs are trained to do their thing near a bush or under a tree while they are on a walk in the city with their owners. They say that Budapest is an extremely clean city, and maybe there is someone who cleans up the mess every day. This foreigner also reported that the quality of Hungarian food is amazing and – even though it is not a traditional Hungarian food – ate more pizzas than back in New Orleans.

This man also stated that in the USA, the waiters usually come to you at a restaurant, talk to you for a few minutes, and then leave the table. Hungarian waiters, on the other hand, come, take your order, and leave.

Read alsoYummy! These are the best restaurants in Budapest

Other weird Hungarian things include the paper-stick on pieces of bread, the delicious mákos guba, and clapping for the aeroplane pilot after landing. From a video, it turned out that the famous American rapper, 50 Cent, was shocked when he first saw a Negro candy because he thought it was some kind of racist joke (Negro candy is black-coloured).

Read alsoRecipe of the week: Mákos Guba

An Argentinian man found fruit soup weird and even sent a picture to his relatives to make them believe what he was about to eat. Foreigners also find the Hungarian sour cream (tejföl) weird which is used in many meals. They also find it weird that Hungarians sit many hours in darkness, in an overheated office, that we stand too close to others when we are waiting in line, and that we do not use headphones while we are making a phone call.

The weirdest Hungarian habit above all is that Hungarian people blow their noses loudly.

March 15 Hungary National flag hoisted Hungary flag

Read also10+1 Hungarian customs that everybody else finds weird

Featured image: Daily News Hungary

January 11, 2020

On next week in MÜPA: A Celebration of Hungarian Folk Music

Both the legendary and more recent figures from Hungarian folk and world music provide proof positive that authentic folk music traditions live on even in urban environments, either through a traditional approach or fused with other genres to inspire original creations. This diversity will be reflected in this January gala programme.

Press release – While it is more than 40 years since the days of ‘polbeat’ (a Hungarian music form: political beat music), it would be a shame to let it be forgotten. Which is why we asked Béla Ágoston to form a group to faithfully recreate the songs of the legendary Orfeo music group. While some of the songs may be familiar from the repertoire of the bands Kolinda and Vízöntő, they will sound very different when performed by Orfeonálé, as we would expect from the work of Ágoston, who always moves freely across a range of styles.

We will also find ourselves at the crossroads of early music and folk music in the company of the Sebő band and their no-less legendary guests, Judit Andrejszki and Márta Sebestyén.

In other words, a group full of superb musicians who hold a pre-eminent position in the world of folk and early music.

If you prefer to be properly shaken up at the roots, we can recommend the traditional Gypsy sounds of the brilliant album Romanimo by Mónika Lakatos and Mazsi Mihály Rostás.

Read alsoNew World Record – Hungarian folk dancers are faster than Michael Flatley – VIDEO

The Góbé band are of a more experimental bent and have been fearlessly pushing the boundaries of folk music since their foundation in 2007.

Their fusion songs include elements of rock, contemporary and electronic music, though always displaying a clear and precise knowledge of the folk roots of the various genres.

And if that’s not enough, the Cimbalom Brothers take the Hungarian cimbalom instrument to the kind of level that leaves the listener dizzy with excitement. Jenő Lisztes and Balázs Unger’s cimbalom duo combines Hungarian and Balkan folk music. To ensure maximum impact, they have invited their brothers – double bassist László Lisztes and guitarist Gergő Unger – along as special guests.

It’s quite possible, however, that Aurevoir will take the evening to an even higher plane! It is no coincidence that this four-year-old ethno-beat band always play to a full house. They draw just as effortlessly from Irish melodies and the Anglo-Saxon beat as Hungarian and Balkan folk music, all of it performed with the incredible energy of the wildest pub band. This is more than mere discovery – this is pure euphoria!

Date: 18 January 2020, Saturday. 7:30 pm — 10 pm
Presented by: Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók National Concert Hall
Address: Budapest, Komor Marcell u. 1

January 10, 2020

This is how Hungarians celebrate New Year’s Eve!

Hungarians celebrate New Year’s Eve with lots of champagne, sausage (franks), fireworks and house parties.

The sausage should be the crunchy Viennese type with mustard; and the house party is more of a conversational gathering and mingling rather than a dance party, according to the Kométa Mindennapok’s survey. The representative survey was conducted in November 2019 by interviewing 1310 Hungarian internet users, reported Sokszínű Vidék.

Although three-quarters of Hungarians (72 per cent) say that Christmas is about eating and New Year’s Eve is about partying, the majority prefer a smaller celebration on the last day of the year, and their second thought when it comes New Year’s Eve is sausage. If it is New Year’s Eve, nine out of ten Hungarians will first think about champagne, and seven will associate it with sausage and four with a house party.

Fifty per cent of people like to spend New Year’s Eve at social gatherings, chatting, nearly a 25 per cent of respondents want to go to parties with music, and another 25 prefer to stay home and watch television.

According to the results of the Kométa Mindennapok survey, there are hardly any people who do not like sausages. Mustard is the most popular sauce to eat it with. 72 per cent of Hungarians eat only mustard, and 13 per cent eat ketchup and mustard. Only about one in every 100 people will eat sausage on its own. Mayonnaise and mayonnaise horseradish are more popular than ketchup itself: more than a sixth of the participants eat mayonnaise, while only one in 20 people eat it with ketchup. Hungarians like crunchy Viennese the most (four out of five chooses it), and the second big favourite is the Frankfurt sausage.

93 per cent of respondents said there is no New Year’s Eve without sausage. The popularity of the crunchy meal is no coincidence, as it is delicious, easy to prepare as well as filling. It can be prepared in almost endless ways: it can be cooked or baked, it can be eaten alone or with sauces, but experimenters can wrap it into pasta dough or even put it in lentil salad. Hungarians’ favourite sausage dish is Frankfurt soup (35 per cent), but they are also popular to accompany any kind of vegetable dish (34 per cent).

“It is advisable to choose a product with the highest meat content, and quality should be the focus instead of quantity,” advises Jolán Kubányi, President of the National Association of Hungarian Dietitians.

The saying goes that it is the pig that pulls our luck out of the ground for next year. So for superstitious people, it is better to choose a pork sausage.

Superstitions also allow us to eat peas, beans and lentils, so that a lot of money will come to the house in the new year. The survey reveals that, contrary to popular belief, men are more superstitious than women about what may be on the table on January 1. 52 per cent of responding men avoid poultry and fish, every second man eats pork instead, as to prevent the fish or poultry taking away his luck. The same can be said of just four out of ten women.

The most superstitious age group is the forties: almost every second respondent keeps their beliefs in mind when choosing a menu. The 20-year-olds, however, do not care for superstitions: 85 per cent of them do not listen with hearsay about New Year’s Eve.

December 31, 2019

Goulash soup: trivia and variations

Goulash soup, Hungarian, traditional, food

It was the food of shepherds once as its name suggests; Hungarian shepherds were called “gulyás”. The name of the profession originates from the Árpád era while the dish is much younger; it spread and became common in the second half of the 18^th century. It was consumed in every Hungarian household, and later it was put on every menu in catering from the Reform age.

The recipe of the Goulash soup you can order in all restaurants and catering facilities can be found everywhere, reports magyarkincsek.hu.

It consists of lean beef, a certain amount of fat, onion and garlic, paprika, salt, caraway seeds, tomatoes, potatoes and dumplings. It can be made in a cauldron or pot as well as in a pan.

It is a known fact in Hungarian households and restaurants that the best Goulash is made with firm beef in a cauldron above an open fire.

Read alsoTricks and tips on how to prepare the perfect Goulash – with video!

However, Goulash soup can be made in various ways, depending on local culture and gastronomy.

For example, the Csángó Goulash includes sauerkraut, rice and sour cream as well. The Cluj-Napoca Goulash is made with cabbage. In Szeged, they make it with various vegetables and Serbian kale. The Herdsman goulash substitutes dumplings with noodles.

Read alsoGoulash becoming a Hungarikum

A characteristic city take on goulash is the cab goulash with a stew-like taste, gherkin and mini sausages. Even the name of the dish has many variations, old and new like beer goulash, bean goulash and rascal goulash. Not to mention false goulash and military goulash.

December 26, 2019

Egri Bikavér, the ultimate Hungarian wine for Christmas

bikaverparbaj bikavér bikaver wine bor hosting alcohol

Egri Bikavér is one of the best known Hungarian wines, so it’s only natural that it’s part of the Christmas menu in quite a few households. The versatility of this Kékfrankos based blend makes it easy to pair it with festive dishes regardless whether they represent traditional or modern cuisine. But to get the most out of the very best Egri Bikavérs we advise you to taste them on their own.

Egri Bikavér Basics

If you want to avoid standing cluelessly in front of a shelf loaded with Bikavérs in a store there are a few basic bits about Egri Bikavér which you should acquaint yourself with. The grapes which Egri Bikavér is made from can only come from the Eger wine region, the varieties are typically vinified separately and then the wines are later blended. The inclusion of Kékfrankos is mandatory furthermore this must be the variety with the highest proportion in the blend. There are three quality levels for Bikavér in Eger: classicus, superior and grand superior.

Egri Bikavér has the distinction of being the only red wine that has been declared a „Hungarikum”.

Bikavér in Eger

There is an extremely wide range of varieties grown in the region, so Eger has a long tradition of blending wines. Local wine makers are adamant that the best way to exploit the potential of the wine region is through crafting Egri Bikavér and its white conterpart Egri Csillag.

„Ours is a wine region of blends”, says winemaker Katalin Tóth, a member of the Egri Borműhely. „Bikavér has always had a prominent role in Eger and in recent years it has become a prestige product. It’s a good idea to open a bottle of mature Bikavér or a grand superior at Christmas as they have the capacity to bring joy to the festive table.”

Culinary tips for Christmas

Bikavér as a blend of many varieties with a major contribution by Kékfrankos is a wine that goes well with a multitude of dishes.

Due to its diversity, ranging from basic versions to the grand superior category, all wine lovers can find the one that best suits their tastes and also matches the dish prepared for the celebrations.

Egri Bikavér is a great choice to accompany Christmas dishes regardless whether they are based on traditional recipes or less common, special ones. Lighter versions of Bikavér, e.g. classicus or superior, pair nicely with traditional dishes made with paprika like Hungarian fish soup, catfish paprikash or stuffed cabbage. Likewise poultry and game birds, roasted lamb and also the traditional „disznótoros”, where the fat of the various sausages and black pudding is counterpointed by the lively acidity of Kékfrankos.

As for sidedishes, you can’t go wrong by offering pumpkins, lentils, sweet poatatoes, mushrooms, red cabbage or Jerusalem artichoke, all of which might function as main dishes for vegetarians.

To match a complex, single vineyard grand superior wine one should opt for some serious red meat like venison, roe deer, wild boar, mangalica pig or beef tenderloin – these couplings are certain to delight at the festive table.

Bikavér as centerpiece

Right from the beginning Macok Bisztró in Eger has been paying special attention to use local ingredients and of course this is also reflected in their wine list. During the festive period they are going to offer several different Bikavérs by the glass from classicus level to grand superior.

„Bikavér is our wine for celebrations. We strongly believe in this wine category and in this period of the year we make it even more of a priority to recommend them to our guests”, says Péter Szternák, restaurant manager. „We are not only recommending a Bikavér to accompany one of our iconic dishes, beef cheeks but the meat is actually braised in Bikavér.”

People in Eger believe that no celebration is complete without Bikavér and they are encouraging everyone else to follow suit and put a bottle of Egri Bikavér on the dining table or under the Christmas tree.

December 20, 2019

Top 10 weirdest Hungarian dishes

It is usual for Hungarians to consume the most typical Hungarian dishes every day, but it should be noted that these dishes might seem weird for people in other parts of the world. Hell, even Hungarian people might be appalled by meals like blood cake with onion or pig feet stew.

Here is the subjective list for the weirdest Hungarian meals, collected by HelloVidék.

The Hungarian cuisine is remarkably diverse, unique and has characteristic flavours despite the same ingredients being used in practically all Hungarian dishes.

Read alsoSimple But Great: A taste of Hungarian Cuisine

The Hungarian culinary art was influenced by the culture of its surrounding countries as well as the natural gifts of Hungary. Naturally, onion and paprika cannot be left out from favourite ingredients, but pork and lard have a strong tradition in Hungary too. The traditions of pork can be traced back to the times when Turkish soldiers took all domestic animals except for pigs because their religion forbade them consuming it. The most popular Hungarian dishes are stew, goulash soup, stuffed cabbage, chicken paprikash, potato paprikash, bean soup, fisherman’s soup and cottage cheese noodles.

However, there are those Hungarian dishes that most foreigners are baffled by – and many Hungarians too.

For example, dishes made with poppy seed are natural for Hungarians but are frowned upon elsewhere since many see the primary ingredient of opium in them. But soups and sweet noodles like cottage cheese, jam and walnut noodles are also strange for foreigners.

Tripe stew

Consuming tripe is very divisive even among Hungarians. Although it is consumed in many parts of the world, tripe stew often hurts many. There are two kinds of people: those who love it and those who hate it. There is no in-between!

Rooster testicle stew

While on the subject of stew, rooster testicle stew is worth a mention. Many swear by it while most wrinkle their noses at this characteristically Hungarian dish.

Pig feet stew

Perhaps the weirdest of all is pig feet stew. Who eats pig feet? Many people ask that question while others cannot wait for a big bowl of hot pig feet stew to be served now and again.

Onion blood cake

The hit of pig slaughterings, the onion blood cake is very divisive. The fresh blood of a pig fried with onions resembles the taste and texture of liver, but many are horrified at the sound of it. Of course, those who do not like liver either are exponentially disgusted.

Lung stew

Lung stew is a dish made with the heart and lungs of a pig. There is no doubt that Hungarians like tripe since they use it in so many of their meals. But Czechs and Austrians consider this as their own dish, so Hungarians are not alone with their great tripe-mania.

Marrow on toast

Many are wary of it but those who had a bite of it, praise it. This iconic dish is mainly made of bone marrow and brain matter but could include kidney marrow and spinal marrow as well – Hungarians know no boundaries in the culinary arts.

Aspic

In fact, dishes containing aspic animal fragments are made in several European countries, so it is not an exclusively Hungarian dish. However, Hungarians feel like it’s theirs so much, they even dedicated a festival to it!

Read alsoRecipe of the week: Hungarian ‘kocsonya’ or aspic

Brawn

Brawn is a creation of the culinary arts made with pig meat, skin, gelling agent from cartilage and spices, often stuffed into a pig’s stomach, pressed and sometimes smoked. Brawn most likely has German or Austrian roots, and immigrated Swabs might have brought the recipe to Hungary.

Noodles in milk

It is time to mention weird desserts since Hungarian gastronomy is in no short supply of those. Noodles in milk or milk soup is also the kind of food that is unexplainable. Who invented it? When? Why? These questions might never be answered.

Bread dipped in water with sugar

A unique dessert from the childhood of many Hungarians is bread dipped in water and sprinkled with sugar. The concept is inexplicable, but it is only the tip of the iceberg of weird Hungarian dishes.

December 12, 2019

Is Pálinka really a remedy? Here’s some bad news

It is a well-known “fact” that pálinka is a remedy. It brings appetite on an empty stomach, decreases toothache if you rinse with it, stops throat ache and disinfects anything. If you don’t want to get sick, drink it as prevention. If you are already ill, drink it as a medicine. Hungarians think it is useful for everything.

Is that true? Konyhalál has some bad news. These facts have little truth in them.

Read alsoHungarians’ favourite winter drinks – recipe VIDEOS

Alcohol disinfects. That is true, but only when it is more than 70 degrees. The strongest shots of pálinka are “only” 50-55 degrees; thus, they do not disinfect. And 70-degree alcohol not only sanitises your throat but erodes it as well, which is not very well-recommended.

Does it disinfect externally? It has a dehydrating effect, so it destroys tissue as well. Therefore, it is not recommended to pour pálinka on wounds either.

Does pálinka help to fall asleep? Let’s just say it helps you to lay down. In small amounts, it has a stimulating effect, and in larger amounts, pálinka knocks you out, resulting in restless sleep.

Does it bring appetite? If you drink a shot of pálinka before lunch, you’ll request food more eagerly. Firstly because it is noon and you would have your lunch anyway and secondly because pálinka irritates your empty stomach and you want to stop the uncomfortable feeling.

Is pálinka best if it hurts? That is not good even at the input stage, but the after effect of it like headache and nausea are not pleasant either.

Then what is pálinka suitable for?

If you drink a few shots of pálinka, you won’t be worried about the problems listed above!

Read alsoMaking good pálinka is not as hard as you think

Furthermore, pálinka is a popular drink among Hungarians and foreigners alike. Drinking it, tasting it, discussing it, and having a good time because of pálinka – you name it, this traditional Hungarian beverage is a remedy for the soul through and through!

December 10, 2019

Hungarian dessert: a favourite of diplomats

While the brittle cake was once an indispensable element of Hungarian weddings, nowadays it scarcely seen on the table of young couples. Although the brittle is a true hungaricum, its making is not a safe task by far, rendering the passing of knowledge hard.

Brittle is a dessert consisting of chopped hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds or other oil seeds mixed with melted sugar or honey which was known as a throat remedy in folk medicine in the Xth century. According to the dictionary, the word brittle is of French descent, at the end of the 1400s it was the seventh course at the wedding of King Matthias and Queen Beatrix, reports HelloVidék.

Read alsoHungarian Dobos Cake became an official Hungarikum!

As the tradition goes, the young couple breaks up the brittle, and the number of pieces will tell how many happy years they will spend together.

Although in gastronomy, the brittle belongs to confectionery, not many pastry-cooks bother with it mainly because it is so time-consuming. In order for each brittle cake to be detailed and well-sculpted, days or even weeks have to be devoted to the task.

Its decline in popularity is also because there is not a set way, an exact recipe to work of. Here is one take on the sweet treat:

Additionally, sculpting it into various shapes is no easy or safe task. Just about a hundred Hungarian people remained who can work the brittle on a high level.

Out of the surrounding countries, mainly Hungarians know about this brown, sugary treat. An expert from Baja revealed that she had many orders from foreigners so far; for a Transylvanian priest inauguration ceremony, from Germany, France, South-Italy and even from Egypt at the request of a diplomat.

Read alsoWork of Hungarian archeologists recognised in Egypt – Photos

December 8, 2019

Pride of place on the Christmas table – Tokaj Aszú

At Christmas everything around us is adorned by festive decorations, lights illuminate the streets and homes, we are surrounded by various traditional decoration items and fragrant pinetree branches. One of the crowning glories of this festive period is the intimate and cozy family dinner with carefully prepared, mouthwatering dishes which are best accompanied by a truly amazing wine,Tokaj Aszú.

What makes aszús so special?

To many the price of a famed bottle of aszú may come as a shock. However it will come less of a surprise once you’ve learnt how many conditions need to be fulfilled for proper aszú berries to form and even though the climate of Tokaj is particularly suited to aszú production it is still not uncommon that in certain vintages some wineries cannot make aszú at all.

Tokaj aszú is not a wine for everyday drinking, however it can create an unforgettable experience when you uncork it for some special occasion.

Culinary tips for Christmas

There is no better loved holiday than Christmas, therefore this is a highly appropriate occasion to open a bottle of aszú. No table laid for a Christmas dinner is complete without a bottle of aszú. Thanks to the rich diversity of Tokaj aszús there is no limit to the number of potentially exciting combinations with food. Though aszú is a sweet wine its unique aromas and high acidity makes it a good companion to dishes other than desserts.

This characteristic is most welcome as it means that an aszú can actually accompany all the courses of a Christmas dinner.

Starting with starters aszús are great with foie gras served either as roasted in slices and garnished with candied fruit or prepared as paté served with jam, chutney or brioche. A glass of aszú is an excellent partner for saline, pungent blue cheese. Take a star form to cut smaller bites from toasted bread, cover them with spread made of Roquefort, Stilton or Gorgonzola cheese and garnish it with dried fruit. Another suggestion is to remove the seeds of dates, fill them with the cheese spread and then wrap them in thin slices of Serrano ham.

Aszú might also work with the main course. It goes well with chicken stuffed with tangerine, raisins and thymes especially if you’re willing to sacrifice a glass of wine for the roasting of the bird. Likewise with mango and duck or partridge accompanied by apples and grapefruit. The most suitable garnishes are the ones made from vegetables which can easily get caramelized and ares lightly sweeter, like carrots, sweet poatatoes or pumpkins.

Should you want to completely steer away from traditional, classic dishes to the intensely spicy Chinese cuisine with its mix of sweet and hot flavours aszú is once again a great choice to accompany such dishes.

The above examples represent real culinary adventures but let’s not forget about desserts. Classic Hungarian Christmas cakes like bejgli, zserbó, gingerbread, fruit loaf or Florentine biscuit are all heavenly matches for aszús. It can be also paired with non-traditional cakes to good effect be it an elegant French crème brûlée or an English rustic pecan pie, and it is no sacrilege either to dip your almond biscottis into aszú instead of vin santo.

As you can see a bottle of aszú is a wine for all seasons and especially for the festive season. Make sure you buy one and enjoy the happy moments.

Should you open a bottle of aszú during the Christmas holidays, please use the #ToastWithAszu hashtag and share your experience with others!

December 1, 2019

Puma’s newest collection features the world-famous Rubik’s Cube -Photos

PUMA x RUBIK’S Brand Ltd. have joined forces to create a collection inspired by the iconic Rubik’s Cube, a toy that has challenged millions and kept minds active for over 40 years. The collaboration, which will add color to any outfit, includes vibrant footwear and clothing with graphic prints and fresh design elements.

The game, invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik, has become one of the best-selling toys of all time. The PUMA x RUBIK’S collection blends the 3D puzzle’s playfulness and PUMA’s expertise in fashion design, which is always grounded in sports.

Unlike the Rubik’s Cube, there is no single correct solution to the outfit. The RS-X³ RUBIK’S sneaker is the center piece of the collection and comes in the many colors that appear on the toy.

The PUMA x RUBIK’S Hoody has been designed in the color scheme known by Rubik’s Cube fans all over the world, while the PUMA x RUBIK’S Tee and the PUMA x RUBIK’S AOP Tee take cues from the shape and mechanics of the cube with playful graphic prints.

PUMA x RUBIK’S collection consists of sneakers and apparel for children as well as adults is available on PUMA.com, at PUMA stores and selected retailers from November 21.

November 24, 2019

The New York Times recommends Hungarian Embroidery as a historically meaningful gift

Where to look if you are the type of traveller who does not want cheap and corny souvenirs but is looking for historically meaningful arts and crafts when visiting a new country? UNESCO can help.

An article was recently published in The New York Times in which historically significant crafts from UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) member countries are introduced. The journal relied on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage nominated from the 178 member countries.

UNESCO designates not only historically important sites but also historically significant crafts, and Hungarian embroidery made the list.

According to the chief of the organisation’s intangible heritage program, Tim Curtis, UNESCO’s goal is

“to safeguard the social context, the meaning, the living heritage of established traditions that remain dynamic and are evolving, and to pass on the skills and practical knowledge to future generations . . . The focus is on the process around the product, not the product.”

Hungarian Embroidery

Hungary’s world-famous embroidery has a history of more than two hundred years. The Matyo type became popular in 1886. Matyo embroidery gained such a success that 400 women were sewing in a workshop in Mezőkövesd by 1911 to satisfy customer demands. By 1950, the manufacture was producing masses of blouses, textiles, and dolls. The most known motif of the clothing is the red rose.

According to the old myth, one time, the Devil kidnapped a Matyo bride’s groom and demanded a heap of roses as ransom. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of winter, so no flowers were blooming at the time. The clever maiden, however, sewed a bulk of red roses on her huge apron. The Devil liked the bride’s handiwork so much that he had no choice but to set the groom free, so they held the wedding without any problem.

To know more about the world-famous Hungarian embroidery, read our other articles on this topic:

Fun fact: Hungary’s pottery-making tradition was nominated to UNESCO this year. It will be assessed in 2020.

Featured image: www.bokik.hu

November 23, 2019

Hungary elected member of UNESCO executive board for 2019-2023

Hungary was elected member of UNESCO’s executive board for the 2019-2023 period at Thursday’s General Conference vote, the foreign ministry’s press chief said.

Hungary returns to the prestigious body after a ten-year hiatus, Máté Paczolay said.

As one of the 58 members of the body, Hungary will be able to better represent its interests at UNESCO and boost its professional and political weight, he said.

The foreign ministry has coordinated the campaign for the membership, Paczolay said, adding that “the result mirrors the appreciation for Hungarian diplomacy”.

November 21, 2019

Why do Hungarians wear black during the colder months?

It is a phenomenon noted and acknowledged by an anthropology professor at my university who very nicely pointed it out to a predominantly Hungarian class and asked them why? The response, at first, was, of course, denial. The hypothesis was protested against and was called untrue, but then when damning evidence, their own clothes were pointed out, the class reluctantly agreed to it and then tried to point out why this could be the case.

A plausible reason was that black absorbs heat so when Hungarians wear black they think that they would be slightly less cold as compared to the people who are not wearing darker clothes. It ought to give them the feeling of warmth in the brutal cold.

Another reason that was pointed out in class was that it flatters your figure, which is a good enough reason to be wearing a specific colour.

Black, as it turns out, has a quality to it that makes you look better and somehow hides all your insecurities, which is one less thing to worry about in the cold weather when the weather is already a cause for worry.

An interesting reason, which was my personal favourite, was that the clothes are just reflecting the weather which is already dark and morbid. So, basically what this person was trying to say was that the weather is already cold and dark and the clothes are just an extension of the same.

There were several other reasons, such as it is what is available in the store; or, as modern people like to call it: capitalism; and Hungarians are not happy in the winter and are mourning the death of hotter weather; among other things, which were plausible theories, but did not sustain and were argued against and let to rest.

But, as the class came to an end, the whole class, which in the beginning was in extreme denial, came around to the hypothesis, and it was agreed upon as a fundamentally valid theory and was acknowledged as whole and complete truth.

But if you have the slightest doubt about anything, I urge you to take out your headphone, look up from your phone, and notice if the theory is wrong. I dare you.

Written by Devika Khattar

November 9, 2019

Hungarian Dobos Cake became an official Hungarikum!

The delicious and iconic Hungarian Dobos Cake was introduced to the public 134 years ago by József Dobos, a confectioner. Dobos’s aim was to create a cake that could be stored for a long time (and so even be transported) as, at the time, no proper technique existed to keep food and sweets cold.

Világgazdaság reported that this delicious Hungarian cake finally became an official Hungarikum. What is Hungarikum? Hungarikum is a collective term indicating a value worthy of distinction and highlighting within a unified system of qualification, classification, and registry, and which represents the high performance of Hungarian people thanks to its typically Hungarian attribute, uniqueness, speciality, and quality.

István Nagy, the agrarian minister, emphasised at the meeting of the Collection of Hungarikum that preserving and valuing our cultural and national treasures becomes more and more important these days.

CLICK HERE to reveal the oldest and most mysterious Hungarikum!

Dobos Cake, Hungary, Hungarikum, cake — *Photo: www.facebook.com/wellspringofwonders*

At the meeting, the decision to make the Dobos Cake an official Hungarikum was finally made. This delicious cake has been one of the favourites of Hungarian and foreign people for centuries and can be bought or eaten at many confectioneries in the country.

Among its first tasters, there were big names such as Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, Queen of Hungary (Sisi).

With this decision, the list of Hungarikums increased by seventy-one. Along with the iconic Dobos Cake, other cultural treasures of Hungary have been selected into valuable objects. These include mostly traditional Hungarian musical instruments and the historical betyár poetry with a two-hundred-year-old past.

Dobos Cake, cafe, Gerbeaud, Hungary, Hungarikum — *Photo: www.facebook.com/GerbeaudCafe*

Featured image: www.facebook.com/GerbeaudCafe

The real Dobos Cake that conquered the world

Some say that the Dobos Cake is the best Hungarian cake. It is the perfect harmony of sponge, cocoa, and caramelised sugar, without any fuss. The simple but irresistible dessert started its way towards conquering the world in the 1880s: from a pavilion in the City Park to the Austrian royal court. The Őseink Hagyatéka, Örökségük (The legacy of our ancestors, our inheritance) Facebook page presents the story of the rightly famous Dobos Cake.

Hungarian heritage sites presented by a Canadian website

Initiated by the Hungarian Embassy of Ottawa, a Canadian website has been created with the purpose of introducing the most important Hungarian heritage sites and values to the North American country.

In Canada, collecting Hungarian values started in 2017, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the country’s establishment. This special event was the starting point of the project when the country’s history, society, and culture were put under examination, and it turned out that Hungarians have an important part in Canada’s daily life. However, there was no global information network or heritage collection that provided information about this interconnection.

The collection process took almost two years and was realised by the involvement of several Hungarian organisations and local communities, thanks to whom more than one hundred documented Hungarian heritage sites are presented in Canada, illustrated with photographs. Besides information exchange, the website provides awareness of these values as well.

Hungarian values are grouped into seven categories on the website.

Detailed description is provided about:

Hungarian works of art, monuments;
Towns and streets bearing Hungarian names;
Buildings or institutions named after Hungarians;
Churches and cultural centres built by Hungarians.

As the Hungarian news portal turizmus.com reports, the website provides information in three languages: Hungarian, English, and French.

Furthermore, it does not only demonstrate Hungarian values found in Canada – giving an overview of their effect on the country’s development -, but it also stimulates interaction.

Accordingly, its content can be edited not only by its administrator, but website visitors are also authorised – by an approval – to share their own posts. Therefore, the web collection can be continuously extended with new values.

The portal was initiated on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence; its start was presented by Ambassador Bálint Ódor and Ottawa’s Mayor, Jim Watson, within the framework of a flag-raising ceremony in front of the City Hall.

The website can be viewed here: https://hungarianheritageincanada.ca/en

November 1, 2019

Hungarian family dressed the Lannister knights

Many new companies last for five or even ten years but fail before becoming successful. There one in Hungary is an exception.

Hello Vidék reported that the Lenhardt family in Hungarian town Makó (Csongrád County) had been the prominent expert in making straps for nearly 150 years. Although the Hungarian culture does not use horses anymore and the two World Wars, the Soviet regime, and other stormy historical events contributed to the fact of making the country’s strap-business forgotten, the family is still active in this field.

leather, Lehardt, Hungary — *Photo: www.facebook.com/lenhardtszijgyarto1873*

This Hungarian business in Makó has been operating since 1873, and it is unstoppable. In the 2000s, the family faced hardships with the wide range of cheap leather products and the vanishing horse-culture, but the family kept the tradition of making some of these products by hands and if possible without any machines.

leather, Hungary, Lehradt, Makó — *Photo: www.facebook.com/lenhardtszijgyarto1873*

In the manufactory in Makó mainly leather-products and other equipment for horses and dogs are made like straps, sockets, and belts. All of these products are made according to Hungarian historical traditions, in excellent quality and last but not least, in the typical Hungarian colours. These products are straightforward but perfect for those who are bored with ordinary and unusual leather clothing and would like to buy something simple but beautiful at the same time.

horse, Makó, Lehardt, Hungary — *Photo: www.facebook.com/lenhardtszijgyarto1873*

The Hungarian manufactory wrote history by providing equipment for the Lannister knights in the worldwide known Game of Thrones series.

The family continues to make prominent leather products in the future and hopes that ancient Hungarian craftsmanship will rise again.

Must-see video! Game of Thrones remake – Szeged

As Youtuber Dániel Mészáros said, this animation was made as a tribute to the Game of Thrones final season as well as the birthday of Szeged, Hungary.

READ MORE HERE

October 30, 2019