Suzanne Urpecz, creator and editor of The Hungarian Girl. Click on my About page for more info.
Mexico has tequila, Italy has grappa, Russia has vodka, and Scotland has whisky, but in Hungary its all about pálinka. Originally used for medicinal purposes dating back to the 14th century, pálinka is known for its unique and fiery flavor made from fermented and distilled fruits. In recent years, pálinka has become the focus of [...]
Perhaps nowhere in the world has the tradition of decorating eggs developed into so many unique patterns and techniques as in Central and Eastern Europe. Originating as a pagan ritual, the people in the region once believed that great powers were embodied in the egg. In particular, the egg represented life, fertility, and rebirth. With the acceptance of Christianity, decorating [...]
The thermal baths of Budapest have a long and proud history. The first thermal springs were discovered some 2,000 years ago in the Roman town of Aquincum (meaning “abundant water”) in north Budapest. Excavated remains of bathhouses, frescoes and mosaics demonstrated how they worshipped these waters. They were later favored by the Turks who popularized bathing culture in [...]
In 896, the Magyars under the leadership of Árpád settled into the Carpathian Basin in what is now referred to as an area of Hungary within East-Central Europe. For over a thousand years, Hungary was continuously shaped and molded by its locals and conquerors. The result of this contributed to a unique and distinctive culture which continues to evolve even today.
Each year a special Easter festival takes place in a small village located in northeastern Hungary. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, Hollókö and its surrounding area is an ethnographic village comprising of beautiful and vibrant historical houses and dwellings. During the two-day celebration, the townspeople wear richly decorated folk costumes while participating in traditional Easter [...]
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia on the morning of Easter Monday, it’s considered good luck for men to gently hit women with a braided whip, known as a “pomlázka”. This may seem odd or even insulting but no harm is intended. In fact, pomlázka means “make young,” as it is believed that women who are [...]
After almost 66 years of continuous service, Malév the state-owned Hungarian airline founded in 1946 announced on February 3, 2012 that it was ceasing operations. The reason according to the carrier’s board of directors is that the company’s financial situation became “untenable.” As the company’s future remains uncertain, this could inevitably mark the end of an era for Hungary’s [...]
George Szirtes was born in Budapest in 1948, and came to England as a refugee after the 1956 Hungarian uprising. Trained in Fine Art, his poems began appearing in national magazines in 1973 and his first book, The Slant Door, won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial prize in 1980. In recent years he has worked as a [...]
Pysanky is one of the oldest and most cherished traditions associated with Easter in Ukraine. Originating as a pagan ritual, the people in the region once believed that great powers were embodied in the egg. While these beliefs may have changed over the years, pysanky still holds great meaning and is a widely popular custom for [...]
From the early days of the Magyar settlement on the Carpathian Basin, to the Renaissance era of King Matthias Corvinus and Soviet-imposed communism, there is a lot to learn about Hungarian history and how Hungary came to be the country that it is today. The following is a list of just a few wonderful books [...]
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