Guarding the sepulcher

Hajdúdorog, located in the northeastern part of the Great Plain, is known as ”the city most faithful to its Greek Catholic faith”. The Greek (Byzantine) Catholic cathedral has retained a characteristic way of celebrating the Resurrection of Christ at Easter.  In a tradition handed down from one generation to the next, young men in festal attire stand guard before the symbolic sepulcher of Christ (Krisztus-sír), from Good Friday until Easter Sunday.  (We had mentioned them briefly in the April 2017 issue of MNO).

Lehár Ferenc and Huszka Jenő

In the long list of Hungaricums, in the company of Tokaji aszú and Goulash, is  Hungarian Operetta. Musicologically, the operetta occupies a hazy spot between opera, light opera, opera buffa and the musical.  At the head of the impressive line of Magyar operetta composers is Lehár Ferenc, best known to the world as Franz Lehar, whose 150^th birthday we’ll celebrate this April.  Next in the line is Huszka Jenő, who would be 145 years old this April.  They were followed by a respectable number of other composers.  Here, however, we wish to throw a party for these two “birthday boys” only.

Entrance to the cistern

An acquaintance of mine shared a photo recently on Facebook, of a tiny elegant house that would be fitting for fairies.  But, as you go in and down the stairs, you are in another magical world.

Asparagus is coming into season now.  This is a very delicious light soup for the spring.