Rolling in Budapest Cultural information in English … Hear everything first hand

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IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW BY NOW

HERE’S A CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MAGNA CUM LAUDE

 DECEMBER, 28.

 AT THE HALL OF SYMA  DISTRICT 7. VERSENY STREET – BUDAPEST

The Magna Cum Laude doesn’t need to be introduced to the Hungarian music lovers.

THEIR FIFTH NEW CD TRACK IS OUT: INTERNAL FLAME

One of the most successful bands in Hungary. Their music is extremely popular. They have sold-out concerts. Many believe the band now has reach their peak.

The band’s new album hit the stores shelves on November, 2. and already many radio stations continuously play by requests their songs. The most famous one is steady on the top: Too Late “Túl Késő.

The new CD has a collection of songs that all reflect on each of the members near past private life. They gathered their own emotional imprints. The lyrics are in Hungarian, but  while listening to the music anyone could tell, feel easily the waves of emotions floating around them.  They sing about everyday’s topics, mainly about their own lives: marriage, death, illness, religion.  Each  and every song has a profound message.  This is a deep “concept album”. Deals with enormous overpowering emotions:  love, regret, loss.

Within their latest pack of CD there is also an attached  DVD that contains one-and-a-half hour selected recording of their last year’s “Magna Xmas” live concert. It was recorded at the Hall of Syma. During this forthcoming concert of December, 28 they will share all their the songs on new CD track and play their  18 songs again from the last year’s live concert. So the traditional goes on with the presence of recoding this year’s concert again.

So as we get closer to the end of the year, it is a great time to be a part at this get-together event and enjoy the awesome music and lyrics of the Magna Cum Laude.

At the end of the press conference  the Magna Cum Laude group invited the eminent colleagues and press participants to join them again, as keeping their previous year’s tradition to celebrate together this year’s success and by asking the press to spread the news of their forthcoming concert of December, 28 at the Hall of Syma. At the end of the press conference there was a blast feast of meat,  spices Hungarian sausages, meat stuffed cabbage and with the tasting of their especially bottled Magna Cum Laude  hot spirit “Pálinka”.

If someone hasn’t heard about them, now is the time to catch-up in purchasing your tickets to the a/m concert.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter

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The winner takes it all in the domestic final!

Last night the lights shined on two Capitals, one was inside the Moulin Rouge, the “Capital of Entertainment”, the other were the bright lights of Xmas decorations shinning throughout the Avenues, Boulevards and the Streets of Budapest, the “Capital of Hungary.”

Upon the original plans the Moulin Rouge went through a reconstruction and reopened in the year 2000. Since then it is a venue, a complex of Budapest’s special entertainment.

So this evening the Moulin Rouge opened its doors by giving the ground over to elect Hungary’s best Finlandia based vodka mixer. Throughout the evening we have witnessed an exciting competition of Hungary’s best top bartenders.

Now was the time to have the previous competitions winners, the 12 bartenders  to take part in the final competition here in Hungary before selecting the winner  to participate in Helsinki at the XIVth  International Finlandia World Cup of 2012. All the bartenders wished to show their best,  who’s the best in this extremely close race. They all showed their skills in several categories: long drinks, followed by asperities. Each round had a fixed period (7 mins) of timing. Then the rating took place.

The rating was carried out by a technical jury then followed by the present tasting committee. Points had to be gathered by the skills, the art of style, the dexterity, the combination of taste and ingredients were all a  part of the competitors imagination.

This evening Mr. Máté Csatlós (Matthew Csatlós) was the grand mixer of the night. Last year he won the title of being the best bartender in Hungary. He received the ticket to take part and represent Hungary in Helsinki at the scenario in the world’s best top 20 bartenders and a chance to win the title and  holder of the World Cup 2012’s Campion. Along with the World Cup  the award prize is to be 25,000 USD.

Mr. Máté Csatlós (Matthew Csatlós) previously was a history and physical educator, but the past 6 years he stepped out of the classroom  and went to stand behind the bar, as a bartender.

The evening’s second and third prize went out to Mr. Ákos Orosz and  Mr. István Ludányi.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter

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THE ONE-AND-ONLY  FIRST WINE PALACE IN HUNGARY

VINOPOLIS WINERY

BUDAPEST’S  5TH DISTRICT,  FALK  MIKSA STREET.

Budapest opened the Vinopolis Wine Bar and Wine Gathering Center, whereas the VIP’s, press and media representatives were invited.  The wine center seeks to develop the Hungarian wine culture and the wine-matching by creating an environment to get-together for professionals to seek what’s news on the shelves of wines or for just spending pleasant hours with colleagues in a cosy environment, share a little time with friends or having a family meeting.

At the Vinopolis Winery there is a spread of choice of  1000 wines in the area of 1200 square meters, offering a snip or two on the spot or can be bought to take home or purchase as a gift.  The wine bar also has a scene to visit and taste the choice of a total of hundred entries.

The Vinopolis Winery had come up with a new form in the world of winery. The idea was self tailored to the Hungarians needs, but basically as an inspiration from the existing winery in the United Kingdom. At the press and media opening Mr. Zsolt Szente, Managing Director introduced the scene by saying: “This is basically an adventure tour to gain knowledge while having a glass of wine. The Vinopolis is also a host to the foreigner wine experts with regular based presentations, whereas updates are spread about the latest news on the local and international world of wines. Hopefully the coming visitors will spread the news of the awesome tasty Hungarian wines and be our ambassadors at the international markets. Surely, the only place where all the wine region’s products of Hungary can be seen and tasted. Foreign well-known 15 major producers wines are out on display can also be purchased.” A guided tour was provided through the three-storey venue by Mr. Attila Petzold, Technical Director who showed around the facilities and as we rolled along he invited the guests for having a snip of some  special wines from the Hungarian regions.

The Vinopolis Winery is not only a unique environment  because of its size in measure, but for it’s range of complex services that had been developed to introduce the areas, regions of the best wine growing vineyards of Hungary.

With the establishment of the Budapest’s Vinopolis Winery, the owners wish to raise the standards of Hungary’s wines and at the same time provide a complex range of services.

At the entrance level are the wide-spread of Hungarian wines. At the lower floor is an interactive exhibition introducing several wine growing regions in Hungary. Professional “sommeliers”take you on a tour to the greatest regions of vineyards growing landscapes to introduce the Hungarian wines. Very interesting and worthwhile to take a tour to a real smooth, non shaky journey to the “Finest Vinelands of Hungary”

The owners of the Volipolis Winery has high hopes to shortly become in one of those “must see attraction in Budapest” venues for local and tourist rolling around the sights and sound of Budapest.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter

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An official opening to Ms. Sára Osgyányi,  artist

and

The premier of  wide collection of the Confetti  jewellery 

November, 24, 2011.

Thursday – 7 p.m.

5th District,  11, Petőfi Sándor Street

Regular opening hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. 7 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 3p.m.

The Magma Gallery came up with an exclusive  and non-regular exhibition. Upon arrival the invited guests received a card with a special request, as to join an interactive game. The following request was as to name the painting of Ms. Sára Osgyányi and to choose a name for the orange color, glass-head  piece of jewellery from the  Confetti collection. On the back-side of the card there was a space to name the two masterpieces in Hungarian and English language with the name of the denominator.

Ms. Eszter Ónodi, the actress opened the exhibition by adding a couple of thoughts to introduce  one-by-one  Ms. Sára Osgyányi’s  paintings out on display and the brilliant collection of the Confetti jewelleries also seen at the spot.

Later-on the jury on the spot selected the creators of the best two named entries. One person left that evening with the Magma Gallery’s winning named painting and one person with a Confetti bracelet.

The winning name of the painting was: “Lady Gaga’s on the run at 5 p.m.” The winning name of the orange color, glass-head Confetti jeweller was named after a semi-precious stone.

The invited guest eyes not only caught attention to the collection of awesome selection of home art accessories, but also to a small spot whereas a selection of wines were to taste. Another yet not well known excellent wines  from  the “vineyard-fields” of Transdanubia were offered from the winery of Mr. Zoltán Bibók, BWC – Bibók Cellar. Frankly, the Hungarian Bibók’s cellar wines deserve a  big thumbs up.  A set of wines from the Bibók winery  have won the pleasure of care and honor by many at the spot. Personally, I would vote for the full quality of the semi-sweet white wine Velvet Cuvée.  The blend was simply smooth as velvet. Unfortunately, the Bibók cellar’s products might not yet ordinarily be available at all on the wider markets but hopefully they will  shortly break into the flash deals.

The Magma Gallery was a great host with not just its selection of grand arts but with providing  a surprise, a huge boat full of sushi, sweet and salty cakes, soft drinks and the a/m  marvelous selection of wines from the Bibók Cellar.

The Magma Gallery features also a selection of contemporary Hungarian applied art and crafts, glass art, fibre art, metal art, small sculpture, ceramics, woodwork, oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolour paintings, metal art, contemporary jewellery.

Surely worthwhile to pay a visit, especially since to Season’s Holidays are just right outside the corner.

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Now this information is a piece of news to the world’s desk of breaking the news!

The Hot Spirit “Pálinka” are the Queens of this nation.

The plant lays in the southern plains of Békés. 12, Gőzmalom sor – Békés (County of Békés)

Can be visited only by previously made appointments.

The four-storey building was originally built in the 19th century as a Synagogue. To-day it is listed as a monument protected building and gives space for the the World’s first “online” Hot Spirit “Pálinka” Center.  The multi-purpose building beyond the scene of the museum also provides areas to hold conferences, symposiums, training sessions and functions as a meeting facilitiy.  Had been furnished with sixty seats tasting room within the scenaro of the distiller equipment. During the tour the visitors can purchase the Békési Hot Spirit “Pálinka” at its local shop.

The first distilled Békési  Hot Spirit “Pálinka” debuted at the Békési center’s distillery by the technical support of remote control from a distance of 100 kilometer.

The test procedure was the proof of success after the taste of the 40 degree freshly made grape Hot Spirit “Pálinka”. It was made by use of  the Cabernet Franc grapes.

From now on everyone can cook at home their favorite tasty Hot Spirit “Pálinka”. Through the website operated control panel, you can load any of the mash fruit from your cosy kitchen home.

It is up to individuals to adjust their cooking temperature and cook according to their personal taste of  Hot Spirit “Pálinka” and more to it, within this program it provides also the opportunity to invite your friends to your popular community portal and share your experiences with them.

The country’s best, award-winning Békési  Hot Spirit “Pálinka” made of real plum fruit can be tasted at the Centrum’s tasting room.

Mr. Zoltán Békési, the owner of the plant said, that by the end of the year all the services of the Center will be functioning . There will also be a “palinka box” where you may leave your Hot Spirit “Pálinka” to rest over a period of time and subsequently matured later on to be distilled.

The Békési distillery goes back to the time of 1984. The birth of the Békési Hot Spirit “Pálinka” was in 1988. Its operation was then with the “support” of the steam-engine that cooked the Hot Spirit “Pálinka”. The Hot Spirit “Pálinka”  plant quickly expanded beyond its ability to meet the train’s capacity.

To-day the Hot Spirit “Pálinka” and the Railway works can be seen at the exhibition, just 5 mins. walk to the museum from the Békési Center.

Update by Aggie Reiter

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November, 22 the doors opened to introduce to the press and media representatives the two newcomers: MOLLY (alias: Sheila) and WALLY (alias: Mate).

Entrance, free of charge for kids under the age of 14.

Between

December, 3. – December 24.

I was happy to receive an invitation and giving my time to take part at the welcoming event of two wombats from Downunder.

Another wonder of living animals the wombats had arrived from Tasmania after the long-long journey to be close again and to share in the cozy environment the togetherness with other mates at the Australia House based at the Budapest’s Zoo.

The welcoming ceremony was opened by Mr. Miklós Persányi, General Director of the Budapest Zoo, Mr. István Tarlós, Budapest Major, His Excellency Mr John Griffin, Australian Ambassador, Australian Embassy to Hungary, Mr. Pakapat Thipayaprapai, Australian Embassy  and Mr. Zoltán Hanga, Spokeman, Budapest’s Zoo.

Mr. Miklós Persányi, greeted the distinguished guests and the gathered media representatives inside the Australia House. The General Director first showed  the His Excellency  and the  Budapest’s Major around in the Australian House. Then after we all gathered in front of the former Bird House that had been rebuilt for the purpose of receiving the newcomers from Tasmania. He also stated: “With the variety of our earth’s wildlife, Hungary tries to even be more present and illustrate the rarely seen species here at the Budapest’s Zoo. There are nine zoos around the World that keep wombats. Of course there are many wombats living in the Zoo at the different territories of Australia. In Europe, the Hungarian Zoo stand as the 4th Zoo to have these sleazy, real rarity wombats. The other three European zoos sharing wombats are in Duisburg and Hannover, Germany  and at Planckendael, Belgium.

The Budapest’s Major, expressed his joy to have new residents at the Zoo after decades again. He was saying, the first time wombats were staying at the Budapest’s Zoo was in 1897.  The next time was just a 100 yrs. ago in 1911, also brought from Tasmania. Previously, to these 2 wombats arrival, there was 2 yrs. of  heavy pre-works in organizing for things to get in order. Last time the Budapest Zoo cared of a wombat was in 1973 and those animal care folks aren’t working in the fields of the Zoo anymore, therefore to-day, no-one has personally memories of how to handle, do the care. To-day’s animal care folks previously went to Germany and Tasmania to gain the knowledge and collect information about the wombats caring and  their habits.

Mr. István Tarlós,  was also happy to say these 2 wombats didn’t have to suffer that long-long journey from Tasmania to Budapest like in these old days (1911) when the transportation took 4 months. This time with the support of the Qatar Airways the animals had  to  suffer (if they did at all) only less than a day flight to arrive in these two wooden boxes  seen out on display.

His Excellency Mr John Griffin, Ambassador arrived to Hungary in the summer of this year and he expressed he is also pleased to participate at this greeting event to the arrival of some of his homeland creatures here at the Budapest Zoo. He also shared a great story about why the wombats have flat heads and the kangas a long tail. Verbally it is a short story, but don’t wish to take your time by writing that would seem as long story. So, I apologize for taking it to a shorty version of what he have had to say. (Before “Noe’s age” the kangas and the wombats both lived at the same friendly camping-ground, but the 2 males lived separately. The kangas lived under the open sky, the wombat in his own  “little tent” in shelter. Of course when the change of season came along with the chilly and pouring rain, the kanga went to wombat to ask him for shelter. The wombat refused to give kanga any shelter even though he had free place at one of the corner’s of his shelter. Kanga was cross by the reaction of the wombat, so he searched for a huge flat stone and hit the wombat on his forehead. Since then the wombats have flat heads. Now the story doesn’t end here. The wombat really got pissed-off and waited just for the right moment to stand for revenge. One day wombat was hunting in the forest, he saw  kanga through the  branches of  trees. Wombat then decided now is the right time for taking the revenge for kanga’s cruel  behaviour. Wombat took a piece of spare from a nearby bark of a tree. He threw it like a spear toward kanga’s lower backside where it actually landed. The spear ended deeply and it couldn’t have had been removed. The painful hit made a huge wound that just grew and grew. So since then the kangas have long tails and the wombats have flat foreheads.) The Ambassador also  talked about the Hungarian population in Australia, saying the figures of inhabitants are as high as 700,000.

Some facts about Molly and Wally. They were born in the same year: 2008.  They were kids when they lost their parents in a road accident and had been brought to the ZooDoo Wildlife Park at Richmond in Tasmania. Molly and Wally grow up together and seemed to get along well. They just had their first little “wombaty” born in the early month’s of this year.

There are 3 types of pouched mammals in the territories of Australia: the kangaroo, wombat, wallaby, and from now on beside the kangas, bats, parrots, kookaburra, lizards, fish and the wallabies, two other Aussie mates, the wombats are here at Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden.

Mr. Miklós Persányi,  General Director also made an announcement to the gathering public asking the  media representatives to spread the words of  the Zoo’s invitation: ‘” The Budapest’s Zoo would like to add something more for the families at this coming Seasons Holidays: “kids under the age of 14  can enter the Zoo with free of charge during the a/m dates.

Two prominent supporters Ms. Katalin Kovács, Marketing Maganer from Discovery Networks (CEEMEA) and Mr. Tamás Gereczi, representing the Qatar Airways symbolically adopted Molly and Wally, the two newcomers. This adoption stands for a one-year duration. The adoption  stands with an offical certification, accompanied with the biography card of its animal and receiving as the foster parent a personal invitation twice a year to meet  “your” animal. During the period of the one year adoption, the adoptive parents transfer an amount of aid.

These are truly incredible creatures. Worthwhile to pay a visit to see some real Aussie aboriginals. By-the-way the name of wombat  is  from the aboriginal language of the Aussie. To-day it is no longer spoken,  it is a dead language. No more mother tongue speaks around.

An interesting fact about the name of wombat! There is the village in Australia called by the name Wombat. A small planet named by Wombat.  A well-known football team carries the name. More surprisingly an anti-tank gun is also called by the name of Wombat.

Molly and Wally, the newcomers arrival had become an overnight media sensation. All channels and news desks gave a report on them.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter

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Unless you are a hermit, I guess I’m not telling you anything new!

The Corinthia Hotel here in Budapest had got surely something to celebrate: It was the newly opened luxury property of this year’s, the 5 stars Corinthia Hotel (“Sister hotel”) in London.

Corinthia Hotel welcomed the especially invited sophisticated guests to introduce and celebrate together the lately opened newest property. The hotel has all what it’s called the old-world glamour, while simultaneously offering modern amenities for today’s discerning travellers.

The name Corinthia was an ice break in the world of five-star hotels that was founded in Malta by the Pisani family. The original Corinthia Hotel was opened in Malta in 1962. Through the years it made a landmark in our Globe’s hotel of full luxury. Wherever you go around the world and meet the Corinthia Hotel you will see they all are operating at most intriguing areas of the world with its unique tribute to the local architecture and cultural traditions. This absolutely newly opened “London town” Corinthia Hotel became the 9th in the line of Corinthia Hotels.

Just like the Budapest’s Corinthia Hotel, the London one is also character with state-of-the-art amenities.

The Londoners say about their Hotel Corinthia: “Our Undisputed Jewel in the Crown.”

Even though each-and-every Corinthia Hotel around the world has its owns sophisticated marks and sights, the Budapest’s and the London’s Corinthia Hotel complex architecture are simply breathtaking.

Naturally beside many other nations dishes, the Corinthia Hotel in London … where else if not for London … serves menus offering the best of seasonal British cuisine in sophisticated surroundings.

The organizers made sure to pull alive the blend of high-class English traditions within their afternoon’s grand tea-party, as if you were right in the middle of London sniping your afternoon’s tea and crunching your biscuits.  Walking up the stair to the Grand Ballroom, a cherry red color mini cooper’s eyes look straight into your eyes. What a scene. The proudly standing red color telly box at one of the corner’s of the Grand Ball room was just adorable. The fine beers from the owner of the Caledonia Pub, made many their day. The Caledonia Pub owner wouldn’t have had missed to bring along his favorite Chelsea football club’s flag and hang it on the wall behind his “bar tender” space. The food was awesome, the real fish and chips from the old days, pies, chrunchy-munchies, you name it, that all goes with “Made In England.” Also a fine band played throughout the whole evening those oldies that once hit the top 40s.

Of course beside the loads of food,there was also a short video introducing the Corinthia Hotel in London. The selection of snaps were really showing the luxury of selected items at the hotel, like the gorgeous Baccarat chandelier with so many small globes. The presentation by Mr. Szabolcs Szabó, Room Division Manager gave a fully detailed information of this new luxury landmark in London, the “sister” 5 stars Corinthia Hotel.

The evening ended with a drawling and the winner won a complimentary week-end to the Corinthia Hotel in London.

If you want to be totally spoiled you can get it at both 5 stars hotels, here in Budapest and surely at the London’s newly opened Corinthia Hotel.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter

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MILLENÁRIS  PARK – BUDAPEST

November 18 – 20

The rethought of old home-made recipes came alive again by bringing back the old style country food at the hand-made traditional Hungarian taste fair.

The whole in-door area was like entering into the land of food…food…food!

Throughout the country, Hungary handled several occasion to hold festivals regarding to the national cuisines, but this was the first festival as to only have pure home-made tastes with the use of  also home-made ingredients.

The festival offered a grand variety to taste a lot of different food and beverage in one place, and to get to know, speak with the people who are involved in making them and delivering these dedicates for us.

The Fair’s honorary guest were from Transylvania. Brought along excellent cultural delicacies. The crown was to go for the spot at the  Erdélyi töltött káposzta “stuffed cabbage, style: Erdély” where there was a continuously endless line-ups for tasting.

It is fair enough to say the festival boasted an array of hand-made traditional Hungarian foods: goat’s and cow’s milk cheese, diary specialities, hand-made chocolates, ham specialities and home-made smoked delicacies, with also salami and sausage makers. Couldn’t be missed the  “kenyérlángos” (dough cooked flat bread in a cob oven), “kürtöskalács” (a cone-shaped sweet yeast cake with different ground coatings: almonds, nuts, cinnamon, poppy-seed ), “rétes” (strudel with fillings of fruit or diary), pecsenye (roast meats), and last but not least, the world of pure Hungarian fruit based hot spirits “pálinka distilleries” and the selection of winning wines and the season’s most typical winter drink the “forralt bor” (mulled wine).

The food was paired with a grand variety of wines and home-made beers. One definitely took particularly many folks attention: the Rose Hip Sweet (11.5%) Wine.  Have no additional additives and it is an aged wine placed in an oaken wood barrel. Highly recommended after a substantial meal as a desert wine. Origin’s from the city of Debrecen.

Beside the line-up of beers, the semi-dark and light millet beer was pretty popular. Also at the stand there was a bowl of hot spicy millet beer.

The organisers thought of those families who arrived with small kids. There was a special place for them to play with crafts and art works while mum and dad were busy strolling around and shopping.

At the central stage, each hour there were talks with invited producers of their home-made products. They also shared some recopies with the public as to set upon their table some of  these home-made specialities during the forthcoming season’s holidays.

The “Hand-made Hungarian Taste Fair” was an event that reached one of its important goals, as to show the variety of the Hungarian traditional flavors by the use of quality domestic ingredients.

Within the three days event the number of the participants were extremely high, reached the number of 15000 visitors.

Updated and snaps by Aggie Reiter

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SIX WEEKS OF ENTERTAINMENT

XMAS FAIR AT THE CAPITAL OF HUNGARY

BUDAPEST – VÖRÖSMARTY SQUARE

NOVEMBER, 18. – DECEMBER, 30.

2011.

During the morning  hours of  November, 18 the Budapest’s Tourism Destination Management held a press conference with invited guest from the Municipality to make the announcement to the beginning of Budapest’s longest festival, the Xmas Fair  2011.

Mr. Miklós Csomós, Deputy mayor at the Municipality opened the floor by giving public information  about the coming festival, saying: “this will be the biggest festival in Middle and Central Europe.” Locals and foreigners will have a huge choice in food, booze, deserts, arts and typical Hungarian made crafts, as well the holiday dishes, delicate snacks. Last year 600 thousand folks were interested to stroll over to the downtown   area to be a part of this gathering at the Vörösmarty Square. Fourty percent of the visitors were foreigners. Many joined the festival from U.K., Italy, France, Holland, Germany and from United States of America.

For the first time Hungary decided to invite a country to be the guest of honor.  So the choice was Belgium, as it is the HQ’s of the EU and by being an E.U member State, Hungary decided to start with Belgium, as the Guest of Honor to join  our Xmas Fair.  Mr. Miklós Csomós added: “this is our first invitation to call a country to take part at our Xmas Fair.We would like continue this tradition in the forthcoming years, as to welcome a guest country as a guest of honor.”   No doubt Belgium is going to bring its well know gourmets and accessories that can add glamour, new habits in our decoration world.

Mr. József Molnár, Managing Director at the Budapest’s Tourism Destination Management, spoke about keeping and sharing the Hungarian traditions with the presence of the hand-made folks art by the Heritage House. Last year the where 66, this year are 36 outsourcing cabins already at  the Vörösmarty square. The less number of cabins was to  avoid  the overcrowding area. At the Vörösmarty Square will stand a height of 15 meters of Xmas tree all dressed, decorated in white colour. During the Advent period, weekly there will be an additional candle to be lite on. On the Sunday of Advent everyone is invited to join a candle lighting  event. This will take place in front the Gerbeaud (Coffee and Cake) House.

Now comes  a heartmelting  part of information. Yes, another first occasion was unfolded by Mr. József Molnár: “Not only the lights and sound will be sparkling throughout the Budapest’ Xmas Fair, but the “Light of Peace” will be present. Directly brought from Bethlehem’s  Church of Nativity by the scout boys to shine the light during the season of Advent.

Can’t stop saying: “for the first time”, so here it goes again. Each week  two  young entrant  artists will introduce their treasures. Those who have a Budapest Card will have 10% off the handicraft products.

During November, 27 until December 23,  be aware to watch what’s happening on the facade walls of the Gerbeaud (Coffee and Cake) House. Keep your fingers crossed as to wish you will be able to see an angel high up there.  Rolling along the paths of Vörösmarty Square between 6 p.m. to  8  p.m.  you can see a snowman dancing around the strollers.

Ms. Anett Rakács, Manager of Culture, Budapest’s Tourism Destination Management spoke about the goal of the Budapest’s Xmas Fair, as to keep on  saving the values, adding values despite of  the economic crisis. “As we get closer to our festive preparations we would like to sweeten the Xmas season with the selected programs for kids and adults. After a long time again the Santa Claus from Finland will be arriving to Budapest  There will be a Santa Claus House where he may rest, meet and greet again the Hungarian little ones. According to last info, Santa Claus will arrive to the Vörösmarty Square on the 6th of December. Until he arrives  a Hungarian Santa Claus will step in to collect the requests on the 4th and 5th of December,  at the same wooden house as mentioned. Ms. Anett Rakács presented: “There will be a Xmas  Fair “Walking tour” with guide on the spot  and  beside Hungarian there will be English language tours. Hear stories about the origin of Xmas habits, the lace that connects folk and religious elements.”

It’s a must, you can’t leave the scene before or without tasting the mulled wine and the apple, cottage cheese, poppy-seeds filled strudel.

Once you visit the scene you will surely find your time to head back.  Mind you all visiting the Budapest’s Xmas Fair, the weather can be tricky and windy, so warm yourselves up in an atmosphere where you can join with the members of your family or your friends  and have a splendid time.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter

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During the morning hours the Trend International – Market Research held a Press Conference  by giving an overview with their update to the present and near past habits of purchasing Hungarian-made chocolate products. The briefing was opened by Mr. Sándor Sánta, President of the Trend International. Statistical data was preformed by Ms. Erika Pintér, Owner and managing director and Ms. Heléna Kovács, Research manager.

Scene: Garden Szimpla “Szimpla Kert” 14. Kazinczy street – Budapest

Mr. Sándor Sánta, first of all,  in general talked about the forthcoming seasons holiday’s Xmas sweets that are so common here in Hungary. The habits of purchasing sweets for Xmas as a gift for the members of our family or friends and buying for ourselves the  bar or two chocos that are out on the market. Even though the winds that swept around the globe with the economic crisis, didn’t miss the land of  Hungary’s economics crisis, yet  the request for the Xmas sweets by the Hungarians were high. The past years the consumers desire changed. They prefer in buying the better quality sweetie than the less expensive ones. During the Xmas season of 2010, a total of 493 tons of chocolate figures were sold. They are pretty popular in Hungary. A great remark of Mr. Sándor Sánta was: ” Some folks open a bottle champagne and some open a bar of dark chocolate” As he said: “I’m in with the second choice.  (I fully agreed with him!)  At the end of Mr. Sánta’s presentation, he said farewell to the press and media audience, after filling a roll for 4 yrs. in the position of being the President at the Trend International Research, but in the future he will stay in this branch filling another position.

(If you look around the World at this time of the year you may see each-and-every country has their own tradition in dressing-up their Xmas trees. Hungary has a long tradition in this field by decorating their trees with specially Hungarian-made sweeties rolled in shiny papers and by hanging them on a string on the branches of the Xmas tree. The parlor candy “szaloncukor” name comes from the way back times of the Habsburg monarchy. The aristocratic’s had their Xmas trees in their entrance hall or i.e. the Salon. The history of that past left, but the name and traditional for the Hungarians remained to  dress up their  Xmas tree’s with parlor candy  “Szaloncukor”.  In the old days the “szaloncukor” was a piece of sweetie of soft hand-made fondant sweet with added flavours of candied sugar).

But those were in the old days in the ’60s, so heading back to to-day’s press conference the parlor candy “szaloncukor” is seen to-day as a Hungaricum.  Around 4 to 5 weeks previously to the holiday season of Xmas, the Hungarians buy about 4000 tons of sweets.  /Hungary maybe a small country geographically, but huge in the love for sweeties/. The Hungarian chocolates have had went through a great change with their flavors, the ingredients, shapes and formations. More-and-more new fillings, flavors have been produce in the parlor candy “szaloncukor”: caramel, coccus, peanuts, “black forest”, chesnuts, fruit jelly, marzipan, rum etc.) The chocolate filled Advent Calender are also very popular.

(The different size of chocolate Santa Claus dress with his usual outfit , the bag of goodies, red color boots all are very common and popular  in Hungary. They are places by the parents inside the window’s ledge on December, 6 for the kids, as a present from the “old lad’ of Lapland.)

Upon the reasearch figures Ms. Erika Pintér said, those customers who made a commitment to purchase the high quality chocos will not turn over to buy the less expensive chocos. Half of the general customers who purchase their everyday’s choco  snacks will most probably look for the cheaper ones, but at the same time won’t give up in looking at the quality at the same time. The figures above were upon the research of when/why/how they buy and eat chocos. In the researches the personally asked individuals at Budapest were in the age between 18-55 and on-line throughout the countryside.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter