CANA offers us a rhyme to recite when Christmas comes to Hungary…
Once upon a time, Christmas was all white
Sprinkled with snow from late November
Children bring out the sledges,
Decorating the town with immaculate Christmas figures.
Once upon a time, Christmas was all black
The mud of the roads
The sun sets, it’s only four o’clock
Loneliness hides in the houses.
Once upon a time, there was the dawn mass
Every Advent morning, Rorate
Wrapped up warm, eyes still swollen
The day dawns in the sleeping church.
Once upon a time there were Christmas markets
Kürtőskalács, honey, cinnamon
Lights and fir trees, gingerbread and mulled wine
For the more courageous, the ice rink is there!
Once upon a time, kitchens were cluttered
With rolls, shapes and molds
The oven is always full
The little Christmas cookies have to behave!
Once upon a time, December 24th was full of magic
The children put on a show
It’s the “shepherds’ game”.
See you in costume at 3pm at the church.
Midnight strikes, the church fills up again
It’s Christmas night, the long-awaited night
When Jesus was born
In the morning, for the little ones, Jézuska will have passed by
Christmas in Hungary
A celebration for all
For kings and shepherds alike
For those with a child’s heart!
Gergő & Luce
