Day Five

Easter Monday is a holiday in Hungary. I am not quite sure why. Christians do celebrate the resurrection on Sunday but all the folk traditions are on Monday. We did not do much as I had to take Dad back to the hospital but traditionally men visit their female acquaintances, friends and relatives and pour some cologne on them. The original tradition used water instead of cologne as it is said that women need to be watered in order to stay fresh and fertile. In some villages, people still dress up in traditional folk costumes and guys still use water. I actually prefer that version. I rather get wet than reek from cologne all day. One kind of cologne is alright but when there are several different men using different kinds, it becomes a little too much. My brother begged me to let him use a few drips on my sweater - it was actually supposed to be on my hair but there I draw the line. My shampoo and other hair stuff are way too precious and important to be wasted on things like this. :) In exchange for being watered, men get chocolate eggs and the younger ones even some money as well. Mom made eggs, ham and lamb - the traditional Easter stuff.


After I took Dad back to the hospital, I convinced Mom to go for a walk around the block. It is so interesting to see these houses and flats. Everything is a lot more crowded than in the U.S. and of course you can see those drying clothes pinned outside on balconies. I also noticed several pubs and men hanging around them practically all day. Of course it was the weekend and then a holiday but it is still another thing I am not used to any more. Refusing to drink a glass of wine with meals is however considered really rude. 


It was still a bit windy but at least sunny so the walk was quite nice. Mom showed me the newest things on the block. They live in a suburb but for many years they had to go into town if they wanted to get more than the basic things. There are now a lot more shops and vendors around. They also told me that an adventure park would soon be built quite close to our house. I wish they could spend that money on the hospital: I have to tell you that Americans would scream if they had to put foot in the rehabilitation ward. It is really old and is not at all modernized or fit for people who have problems with mobility. 


In the evening we watched a movie called St. Peter's umbrella. It was adapted from a very famous Hungarian book. I remember I bought it for Heidi a while back. I have never read it - oopps, it is another book I was supposed to read in high school but skipped :) -, but now that I saw the movie I am absolutely sure that she had to have a hard time reading it. It is really a folk tale with lots of references to customary things that might be strange for foreigners. It portrayed a group of villagers in the 19th century who found an umbrella and started to worship it because they connected it to some mysterious events. Superstition and the Catholic Church that supported it. 


I hope all is well with you. I am wondering if you are actually reading this. Haven't seen even one comment. Send me some love if you have the chance!