By TURÓCZINÉ VARGA ILDIKO
HUNGARIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Hungary is a small country in Central Europe. It is located in the Carpathian Basin with a population of less than 10 million, but another 2,5 million Hungarians reside within the seven countries surrounding its borders, and another 2 million Hungarians live in other parts of the world. These people speak Hungarian – known as Magyar.
Report for C1 December 2018 Italy
By Hungarian delegation
The experiences and reflextions of the journey
The folk music of Hungary is one of the country’s most important expressions of national identity. Hungary’s geographic location, together with a cultural heritage that bears influences from central Asia to western Europe, has long supported diverse and lively musical traditions.
There is no probably other country int he world where they use as much sweet paprika powder as Hungarians do. However, it has not always been like this. In the early Middle Ages, Hungarian cuisine was well-known for its wide variety of dishes. The royal cooks used an astonishing range of spices and herbs including ginger, thyme, sage, anise and even saffron.
Folk ovens may come in different shapes of square, round or barrel, and they may accommodate 3 to 8 loaves of bread. The hearth opens into the kitchen and the bank around the edge allows space for cooked items to cool. A small corner nook may also serve as a sleeping place for children and elderly people.
Thatching was the prevalent method for constucting roofs for homes and farm buildings in the rural Hungary. These roofs are easy to repair and resistant to wind and rain. They can keep the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Wickerwork has existed for centuries in Hungary. Baskets, trays, stands and various holders are made by weaving together split rods of willow. Wickerwork is durable and strong and it can even support the weight of a human body.
