Festival of Nations (April 28 - May 2, 2010)

Festival of Nations 2010

Minnesota’s largest ethnic celebration, the events of the Festival of Nations took place at the River Center in St. Paul between April 29 and May 2. It was the 78th Anniversary of this exciting carnival, organized by the International Institute of Minnesota. Taking pride in the richness of diverse cultures in our community the participating nationalities with 90 ethnic groups presented their delectable foods, brilliant folk dancing, fascinating cultural exhibits, folk art demonstrations and an international shopping bazaar.

Read the report ►►►

The Hungarians (Minnesota Hungarians) have been participating in the Festival of Nations from the beginning. Our current chair coordinating contact with the FON is Dr. Tibor Gallo; we present
*the Hungarian Café/Kitchen (Chair Rozy Nemeth),
*the Cultural Exhibit,Chair Agnes Fulop),
*the Vidéki Dancers (group leader Dennis Fritz) performed among other dance groups and * as a folk art demonstrator the Hungarian Chess Master, Laszlo Ficsor played with visitors. The menu of the Hungarian Café attracted many visitors with the Stewed Beef over Dumplings, Hungarian Goulash soup, Sautéed Mushrooms w/paprika over Dumplings as a vegetarian dish, pickles. For dessert they offered Dobos Tort, Chocolate Cream Tort (Rigó Jancsi), also Coffee and Milk. The Vidéki Dancers performed on the Atrium Stage and the Main Stage with their singers aside. To maintain fun and festive atmosphere the Festival Organizers of the International Institute decided on the theme for all cultural exhibits: Folklore,
Legends, and Heroes.

They intention were - “to give the opportunity to develop an appreciation, rather then just a tolerance of the culture of others as we build for the future together.“ Preparing the Hungarian Cultural Exhibit - following the given theme - Agnes and Laszlo Fulop drew a series of pictures illustrating Sándor Petôfi’s poem/story : János Vitéz, (John the Valiant). The main folk figure, János (John) became a hero in the fairy tale. The Fulops assembled and exhibited an additional poster about
Sandor Petofi, a brilliant Hungarian poet, who in his times became real hero: in his writings he inspired Hungarians for the desire of freedom and human equality. He himself fought and died for his ideas in the revolutionary war and Freedom Fight of 1848-49.
 

Photo:Kathy and Tibor Gallo, Agnes and Laszlo Fulop

 

This year the Hungarian Exhibit won  the “Festival of Nations Award of  Excellence - Cultural Exhibits”

 

Congratulations to Agnes and Laszlo Fulop for their work drawing,  designing and assembling the exhibit and to Tibor Gallo for helping to   set up the exhibit; to Rozy Nemeth for managing the Café, its  successful menu and deliciously prepared food; to the Vidéki Dancers  led by Dennis Fritz and singers for their stage presentation and to  Laszlo Ficsor for  combining teaching with outstanding entertainment as  Chess Master.  Special thanks to all participants who worked in the  Café/Kitchen  cooking and serving the visitors. We thanks every  attendant, who see in  the Hungarian Exhibit booth talking to the  visitors, giving out  information about the exhibit, answering  questions, and get the visitors interested in the Hungarian culture.  

 

The Minnesota Hungarians’ Leadership expresses appreciation to the  International Institute for providing opportunities for ethnic  minorities to partake in these worthy events sharing culture, folklore  with others.    

 

Minnesota Hungarians May 2010

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"Dear Tibor, Kathy, Marika, Demetri, Zsolti, Mari, Carla, Gabor, Katika, Attila, Amy, Ibolya, Béla, Ákos, Anna, Éva, Simon, Barbara, Katie and  George,

Thank you for your continued support for attending the Hungarian cultural exhibit during the four day programs of the Festival of Nations. It was a successful event and your personal contribution in communicating with  the visitors enhanced our overall presence. I want you to know, this year the Hungarian Exhibit received one of the "Festival of Nations Award of  Excellence for Cultural Exhibits" reward. I hope you all had a good time and memorable moments at the Festival. Special thanks to Tibor who was  very efficient and inventive in helping us to set up our exhibit and with Kathy helping to take it down at the end.

 

Thank you again for your participation and help. Agnes and Laszlo"

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"Agnes - I also would like to thank you and Laci for the beautiful  display -- It was a pleasure to tell visitors about Petofi Sandor and  the story boards you made were so beautifully done.  Many parents were  reading the story to their children - I even read the boards to some  children and adults.  The entire display was so simple and elegant.   Your work on this year's display will be remembered by many. 

Thank you!
Amy Konkoly and family"

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The Festival of Nations events in Saint Paul, Minnesota
by Agnes Fulop-Sylvester

 

The yearly events of the Festival of Nations (begun in 1932) are Minnesota largest ethnic celebrations. Today more than 100 different ethnic groups are participating in an exciting four-day intercultural adventure organized by the International Institute of Minnesota. Every year about 90,000+ persons (students and visitors) from several states come to celebrate and learn about America's roots by catching the excitement of colorfully costumed folk dancers, exploring fascinating cultural exhibits,  seeing ethnic artisans demonstrate skills handed down for generations. They enjoy sumptuous taste treats at cafes featuring more than 225 ethnic foods and have exceptional desserts. More fun to shop at the Festival's busting bazaar. 

 

The spirits helps spending as thousands of ethnic volunteers work together at the Festival, proudly sharing their traditions with the visitors. The Minnesota Hungarians have been participating in the Festival of Nations events for at least 60 years. At the beginning the Festival events were organized in every third and later every second years. Because of the interest for this spectacular events was increasing the

 

Festival of Nations became a yearly happenings. At this time the exhibits were a nicely arranged but mixed display of different kind of Hungarian folk arts displayed in the Hungarian Kitchen booth. The menu offered the famous goulash and bakery’s specialties.

 

Our archive records are showing that, the Hungarian community in
Minnesota participated in the Festival of Nations events since 1949.

The early organizers and participants were: Dr. Géza Kertész, Dorothy Livány, Julia Preda, Maria Domonkos, Maria Faludi.

From 1960’s:  Denes and Berta Mathe, Denes and Eva Csathy, Arpad, Katalin and Marika Gallo, Lorand Andahazy, Dr. Robert Fisch, Kalman and Ilona Govrik, Rezsoe and Margaret Gracza, Tibor and Olga Zoltai, Arpad and Ilona Rumy, Laszlo and Hilda Szendrey, Andras and Karola Toth, Fr.Turmezei, George Preda, Ilona Fozo, George Kurilla and  his wife, Susanne Horvath, Margaret Rupprecht, Eva Mandics, Edit Kosa, Laszlo G.
Fulop, Imre and Elizabeth Vida, Mrs.Charles Dudas, Laszlo Noe, John and Ilona Barsness, later Paul and Magdolna Fulop.

from the 1980’s: Ilona Gardil, Kornelia Suveges-Prach, Miklos Mazanyi, Edit and Lajos Horvath, Emma Szabo,  Erika and Orsolya Szabo, Anna Nemeth and her family Rozy Nemeth, Erzsi Nemeth-Braynt, Rachel Braynt, Teri Nemeth-Gunderson, Oliver and Sheryl Papp; Lajos and Marika Miho, George, Barbara and Katie Bor, Csilla and Andras
Grauzer, Jolanda Grauzer-Szekely, Kitty Gogins, Paul G. Fulop, Marika Kerkay, Angela Fulop-Farris, Zsuzsa Fulop-Larson, Daniel Biro, Maria Bales, Vincze Zsolt, Zsoltika, Dimitri, Marika-Kubanyi-Vincze, Attila and Ibolya Konkoly and many more who helped at the Hungarian kitchen, exhibit and demonstration.

 

During the Festival’s four-day long events we set up our Kitchen, Cultural Exhibit and Demonstration’s booth.

 

In the past 20 years the Cultural Exhibits had been accommodated a variety of given themes assigned by the International Institute as main organizer) setting the direction of the exhibit.

 

As designers and organizers preparing the exhibiting materials and set up the "Hungarian Exhibit” booth Agnes and Laszlo Fulop, (1990-2005), Denes and Mari Saari, with Marta Nemesi (1996), Tibor Gallo and Sandor Gallo(2006-2008), the Fulops and Attila Szabo (2009) voluntarily worked together with a large number of helping members of our group, creating and set up an informative, spectacular and interesting exhibit. At the four days of these worthy happenings well prepared attendants have been willing to share our traditions and teach the visitors about the Hungarian culture.

 

Our Café (kitchen) organizing by Rozy Nemeth, working with her family Anna Nemeth, Erzsi Nemeth, Rachel Bryant and others and a large number of skillful MH members-staff has been one of the constantly visited kitchens of the event, offering specialties on the “Hungarian Menu”. The famous Goulash (soup & stew version with homemade noodle) and pickles have been the most popular dishes through the years, with mushroom stew for vegetarians, Dobos torte and Rigo Jancsi desserts.

 

Betty Bodnar Belanger as a Demonstrator for many years has been teaching and showing how to do the best of the Hungarian embroideries.

 

For years, as part of the events, two Chess-Masters, Laszlo Ficsor and Eugene Kerkay have been playing simultaneously with challengers.

 

There is an ethnic Hungarian dance group in the Twin Cities named  "Vidéki Dancers" founded and lead by Dennis Fritz. They are performing various dances from Hungary and Transylvania not only at the Festival events but for other invitations as well. 
Participating in the Fashion Show our group introduced beautiful folk dresses of Kalocsa, Matyo and Kalotaszeg.

 

Participating in these remarkable events, we are proud to keep the name Hungarian among the other ethnic groups in Minnesota. Our organization is grateful for the opportunities to present, share and teach others about the Hungarian culture, especially our folk art and history.

 

April, 2009.
 

 

 

(photo: Festival of Nations 2005)

 

Festival of Nations 2008

Themes:

2010: Folklor - Heros and Legends

2009: Transportation and Innovation

2008: Architecture

 

 

For more information visit the following website: www.festivalofnations.com