In Hungary, Christmas Eve (Szenteste) is the most important day of Christmas celebrations. Families spend the evening decorating the Christmas tree together and having a special meal of fish and stuffed cabbage. That night, most people attend Midnight Mass at church. On Christmas, people visit close family and may receive presents from Mikulás (Saint Nicholas) or Télapó (Old Man Winter). Traditional Hungarian Christmas songs and customs focus on peace, family, and the spirit of the season. The document shares these Hungarian Christmas traditions and wishes friends in other countries a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

1. CHRISTMAS GREETING
FROM HUNGARY

2. Szenteste
In Hungary, Christmas Eve is very
important and is called 'Szent-este'
which means Holy Evening.

3. Christmas tree
People spend the evening with their family and
decorate the Christmas Tree. Sometimes only the
adults decorate the tree (without the children
there), so when children come in and see the tree,
it's a great surprise and they are told that angels
brought the tree for them.

4. Christmas meal
The main Christmas meal, which is also eaten
on Christmas eve, consists of fish and stuffed
cabbage and a special kind of poppy
bread/cake called 'Beigli'.

5. Midnight mass
The Midnight Mass service is very
popular in Hungary. Most people go to
Church after their Christmas meal.

6. The other days
On the first and second days of
Christmas people visit their close
family.

7. Mikulás
St Nicholas also visits Hungary on the 6th December.
In Hungary he is known as 'Mikulás'. Children leave
out shoes or boots on a windowsill to be filled with
goodies! Presents might also be brought by Télapó
(Old Man Winter).

8. Famous Hungarian song at
Christmas
Kiskarácsony, nagykarácsony,
kisült-e már a kalácsom?
Ha kisült már, ide véle,
Hadd egyem meg melegébe!
Jaj, de szép a karácsonyfa!
Ragyog rajta a sok gyertya!
Itt egy szép könyv ott, egy
labda!
Jaj, de szép a karácsonyfa!
Béke szálljon minden házra,
Kis családra, nagy családra!
Karácsonyfa fenyőága,
Hintsél békét a világra!
Kis fenyőfa, nagy fenyőfa,
kisült-e már a malacka?
Ha kisült már, ide véle,
Hadd egyem meg melegébe!

9. Every time a hand reaches out
To help another... that is Christmas.
Every time someone puts anger aside
And strives for understanding
That is Christmas.
Every time people forget their differences
And realize their love for each other
That is Christmas.
May this Christmas bring us
Closer to the spirit of human understanding
Closer to the blessing of peace!

10. We would like to wish a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year for all
of our friends in Poland, in Italy and in
Catalonia:
Your Hungarian friends from OÁMK
Simon István Street Primary School