Exhausted and burned out from chasing the ever-elusive American dream, Jennifer Wilson and her husband Jim were desperately seeking a simpler, more connected life. Having lost half of their savings in the U.S. stock market crash in 2008, the timing seemed right to make some changes. In the summer of 2009, Jennifer, Jim and their [...]
Beautiful, graceful and soaring through the skies, birds are often portrayed as symbols of power and freedom. In many myths and legends, birds connect the human world to the divine or supernatural realms that are beyond ordinary experience. In Hungary, there are two main legends that surround a mythical bird called the “Turul“, which is [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
In 1913, the 7th Congress of the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance (IWSA) met in Budapest. The aim of the convention was to raise public awareness of women’s issues in Hungary. In particular, the alliance wanted to work with city council to establish a women’s aid office as well as day care centers. Here’s a look [...]
A larger-than size bronze statue of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was unveiled today at the Graphisoft Park in Budapest. The statue was commissioned by Graphisoft Founder and Chairman of the Board Gabor Bojar. The relationship between Graphisoft and Apple can be traced to the 1980’s, when Jobs came across the first version of Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD [...]
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