Kalotaszeg is the jewel box of Hungarian culture, the greatest custodian of folk costumes, folk music and folk architecture, not only Transylvania, but the stronghold of Hungarian folk art as a whole - declared the Deputy State Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office for National Policy in Bánffyhunyad on Sunday.
Péter Szilágyi pointed out in his speech at the Hungarian Days in Kalotaszeg: the series of events is excellent proof that the Hungarians of Kalotaszeg have a good sense not only for preserving old traditions, but also for creating new ones.
The highlight of the 5th Kalotaszeg Hungarian Days was the Sunday parade, for which around half a thousand residents of 23 settlements in Kalotaszeg donned their colorful national costumes. The decorated procession went from the Reformed church to the Barcsay garden, where the folk songs and dance routines of the villages were also presented.
In his speech, Péter Szilágyi pointed out: the event can also be called a celebration of the preservation of tradition, in the area close to Cluj, the folk costumes, folk textiles, and folk songs are not "dusty memories" but a living reality, the locals proudly celebrate their Hungarianness, so it is an "uplifting feeling" to be a part of it. He reminded that for the 15 million Hungarians living in the world, besides language, traditions and culture represent the closest bond.
He emphasized: the goal of the Hungarian government is to make every Hungarian - no matter where they live - feel that they are an equally valued member of the nation. "Even in the most difficult times, we do not let go of the hands of our compatriots, and we continue to believe in the cross-border unity of the Hungarian nation," he said.
He recalled: our ancestors knew that the future can be built on traditions, since there is no nation without common culture and traditions. Respecting and carrying them on is "respecting our ancestors and ourselves", without them "we would become a nation that has lost its roots". "Our task is to preserve and pass on the heritage entrusted to us in today's modern world - where these values are more and more relegated to the background," he told those present.
Speaking to the public media, Péter Szilágyi said: the Kalotaszeg event also shows that it is worth enrolling Hungarian children in Hungarian kindergartens and schools, teaching them folk dance, because it "pays off". According to him, seeing that the Hungarian community in Kalotaszeg is developing year after year, the various supports make sense.
The politician himself participated in the event dressed in Kalotaszeg folk costume and hide.
He told MTI: he visited Kalotaszeg for the first time in 2019, and he really liked the men's national costume, so he asked Tibor Bálint, a hide maker from Türe, to make it for him as well, and this year he was able to wear it on the spot for the first time. "He used to be very successful at other events as well, many people know him and admire him," he said.
Mária Búzás-Fekete, RMDSZ deputy mayor of Bánffyhunyad, emphasized the unity of the nation. "The nation is one because they take care of us, help us, thank you very much, we feel their care," he said. He also recalled the obstruction of the kindergarten built with Hungarian government support, and thanked everyone for their support.
"It's good to be a Hungarian today here in Bánffyhunyad," said Csoma Botond, president of the Romanian Hungarian Democratic Association in Cluj County, who considered it regrettable regarding the kindergarten that some people feel that Hungarian community-building is destruction, while it is not directed against anyone.
Member of Parliament Rozália Biró emphasized: "the basis of a strong nation is a strong community, a strong family, and these bonds are unbreakable", while István Vákár, the vice-chairman of the Cluj county municipality, wished that as many people would still participate in the event fifty years from now.
Jakab Mihály, a Reformed pastor from Bánffyhunyad, pointed out that the present young people are the future, for whom it is worth working hard, and thanked the Hungarian government for the support given to the renovation of the László Ravasz memorial house.
The 5th Hungarian Days in Kalotaszeg ended with a performance by the artists of the Cluj-Napoca Hungarian Opera and a concert by the Bikini ensemble.
MTI
