MaNDAHungarian National Digital Archive

Cemeteries are not just places that can be interpreted on the emotional level of passing or mourning. There are graveyards that became pilgrimage destinations in the past decades, like the Házsongárdi of Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca), the Père-Lachaise of Paris, or the Fiumei Road Graveyard. This week, through the history of the latter, we are searching for the answer to the question ‘How it became a National Pantheon from a public cemetery?’

Throughout history, people have feared fire as much as they have used it to their advantage. The dreaded fire, the "red rooster", could strike at any time and consume whole settlements. An organised force of dedicated people was needed to subdue the flames in case of trouble. There were firefighters in ancient Rome and its provinces, and there have always been firefighters in later times, who chose to take on the task of putting out fires, with all the danger and responsibility that entailed.

Saint George’s Day, celebrated on April 24th, has been regarded in several European cultures as the beginning of spring. Even ancient Roman shepherds held various rituals during this period, and within the Christian tradition, the feast of Saint George the Dragon Slayer was placed on this date. In Hungarian folk tradition, it is also a significant spring day - its customs rooted in pagan rituals. Our current exhibition explores these traditions, along with the figure of Saint George himself and the symbolism of the dragon.

Easter is considered to be the greatest holiday in the Christian world, however, due to the additional holidays and customs associated with it, we prefer to name this period as the Easter holiday circle. In addition to its biblical implications, it is also referred to as the Feast of Coming of Spring. Since there is no set date for the Easter holiday, it is related to the spring equinox, the first full moon that follows, and is therefore considered a moving holiday. In the frame of my writing, we take a brief look at biblical relevance and festive traditions.

Love fades away slowly, especially if it is platonic. How many untold words and missed opportunities are hidden behind tiny little memories and letters? Waiting, suffering, the joy, the pain and many more sentiments could be hidden in a young girl’s heart, when she decided to give up her desires. Whether provincial prudery or a moral question stood behind this? Anyway, could you keep a secret like your love is Endre Ady for decades? Today’s selection highlights this mysterious relationship; with Endre Ady, Illi Kíváncsi (Curious), the family Varga and their relatives.