Christmas is celebrated in many different ways throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Commonly most of the regions’ festivities begin with the period of Advent which is four weeks prior to Christmas and the feast of Saint Nicholas on the 6th of December. Although the celebration of the season is shared, each country has developed their [...]
Hungaricum refers to something that is characteristically and typically Hungarian which can include speciality foods, drinks, traditional clothing, animals, customs, and even fine works of art. Much of these things can be attributed to Hungary’s rich and diverse cultural history. Here are some of the most well-known Hungaricums. Paprika Paprika is the national spice of Hungary and used [...]
Easter (Húsvét) in Hungary is celebrated with folk traditions and religious observance. Here are some of the most common practices for this springtime holiday. Lent Hungarians regard “Lent” as the Great Fast for Easter. Since meat is forbidden during Lent, the day before Ash Wednesday is called “Húshagyó Kedd”, which means “meat abandoning Tuesday”. On Holy [...]
Merry Christmas to those you are celebrating today! I thought should share an interesting custom that takes place every year in Serbia. Hundreds of citizens in downtown Belgrade took part in a traditional Christmas bread breaking to mark the Orthodox Christmas Day festivities today. You can view this video below which has footage of the event… http://tinyurl.com/2ee5ezs The bread [...]
Name day is a tradition celebrated in many countries in Central and Eastern Europe. One’s given name is associated with a particular day of the year. The custom originated with the Catholic and Orthodox calendar of saints, where believers, named after a particular saint, would celebrate that saint’s feast day. In many countries, however, there is [...]
Easter is a special time in Russia, with many delicious foods prepared for the joyous occasion. Celebrations are generally later than in the West. This happens because Easter dates are determined by different calendars. The Russian-Orthodox church uses the old Julian calendar, whereas the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches follow the Gregorian calendar. Here are just a [...]
With beautifully embroidered costumes and energetic music, Hungarian folk dancing is rooted in rich culture and heritage. It originally began as a pastime for villagers many years ago. Although folk dancing may not be a part of daily life in Hungary anymore, it is still celebrated and embraced by many people. Here is a featured [...]
Here is a collection of photos of Hungarian culture and heritage. Enjoy!
Polish people like to eat, drink, socialize, and have fun. If you are fortunate enough to be invited to a local’s house for dinner or even a simple meal, just be sure to bring a healthy appetite! You’ll find plenty of delicious and savory dishes. Here is a list of some traditional Polish foods. Pierogi A dumpling of [...]
The Hungarian grey cattle also known as Magyar szürkemarha are an ancient breed of cows from Hungary. These long horned animals once grazed the great plains of Hungary over 1000 years ago. Used mainly for draft purposes, they were positioned in teams of four or more to pull merchant wagons across the plains, sometimes in long [...]
