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Written by The Traditions Investigator
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Page 1 of 2 "Kellemes Karacsunji Unnepeket" (Abundant Christmas Holidays), "Boldog Karacsonj" (Merry Christmas) in Magyar, and candy for Christmas is "szalon cukor". You can decorate your tree in festive Hungarian style and include some of the wonderful baked goods that Hungary is famous for! Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Museum has delightful Christmas pages from which I found the interesting information on Hungarian Honey Hearts.
- Gilded nuts
- Fruit
- Paper cornucopias, or wrapped as little rolls,filled with homemade fudge (Szalon Cukor) hung from the branches.
- Foil wrapped fudge
- Embroidered felt hearts ( these are favored as decorations throughout Hungary
- Slippers
- Honey cookies (Mezeskalacs)
Advent wreaths are commonly used to start off the advent season, with candles are that are decorated with red and gold ribbons (symbols of life and brightness). Children get Advent calendars, and these are always a fun way to celebrate the days leading up to Christmas.
The Hungarian Christmas celebration begins on Christmas Eve, and the tree is decorated on Christmas Eve, not before, with the presents put under it at that time. This is related to the fabrication that angels deliver the tree and presents...not unlike our Santa stories, but with the lovely thought that all come from Christ. Children enter the room with the tree after they hear little bells ring and Christmas music- telling them all is ready. The family gathers around the beautiful lighted tree and say a prayer. Then gifts are distributed and everyone enjoys opening their presents. "As children, we were sent into another room to play after supper, and told to "listen for the angels". In a little while, a bell would ring, and we would come back into the room to find a beautiful Christmas tree fully decorated with the wrapped presents arranged underneath its boughs. The decorations always included "szalon cukor" a kind of wrapped fondant candy that was imported from Hungary, ornaments embroidered on felt from Hungary, and wooden ornaments from Slovakia. " from the Christmas Archives
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 15 September 2007 )
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