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| Culture Class: Holidays in Hungary, Lesson 10 - Mother’s Day |
| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Hungary Series at HungarianPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Hungarian holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 10, Mother’s Day. In Hungarian, it’s called anyák napja. |
| If you’re in Hungary and you hear people singing "Orgona ága, barackfa virága", it can be none other than the first Sunday of May, or in Hungarian május első vasárnapja, the day when Hungarians celebrate mothers and grandmothers. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question? |
| Do you know who the patron saint of Hungary is? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| The tradition of celebrating mothers can be traced back to ancient Greece, or in Hungarian Görögország. At the beginning of the 20th century, Americans started celebrating Mother's Day too, and later more and more European countries joined as well. Hungarians celebrated mothers on the first Sunday of May in 1925 for the first time. The celebration was organized by the Hungarian Red Cross Youth. The date was chosen to connect the occasion with the traditional cult of the Blessed Virgin service. |
| In May, all schools and kindergartens organize a smaller Mother's Day celebration, called anyák napi ünnepség. Children draw, make paper flowers by hand, or construct easy-to-make artisan presents, or ajándék for their moms. During the Mother's Day celebration itself, they give the presents to their mothers while reciting poems and singing songs. To make florists, or virágárusok also happy, grown-ups usually buy flowers for their mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. |
| In Hungary, there can be no Mother's Day celebration without the Flower of May, lilac, or in Hungarian orgonavirág. Botanists say that the lilac symbolizes devotion with its special beauty and fresh, peachy aroma, so over the years it’s become a worthy element of this festivity. |
| In 2013, a company that makes baby care products surprised lucky mothers by taking pictures of their families. They put these pictures on giant posters adorned with personal messages. Of course, the chosen mothers knew nothing about the occurrence. It was a big surprise when they saw the huge pictures on the street, on which their loved ones had wished them a happy Mother's Day. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Do you know who the patron saint of Hungary is? |
| The patron saint of Hungary is the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or in Hungarian Szűz Mária. Even the first Hungarian Mother's Day in 1925 was connected with the old cult of Mary in May. |
| Did you like this lesson? Did you learn any interesting facts? |
| When do you celebrate Mother's Day in your country? |
| Leave us your comments at HungarianPod101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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