Tradition. This is what connects the past and the future, and between the past and the future we ourselves are the bridge, the link. And in this chain, Christmas is the strongest eye, and it is still ours. Unbreakable, unbreakable, wonderful.
Economist Imre Boros, whom the "progressive" intelligentsia would expect to be an atheist and hold a pine festival or a festival of lights. Instead, the Boros family follows the traditions.
– Our customs have not changed for decades, our Christmas is very traditional. However, from one point of view, no, because the family has expanded considerably. We have three children, and for a long time somehow the grandchildren did not want to come. I reached sixty and just shook my head, and then, if I may say so, my children turned on me. Today we can be happy with 8 grandchildren, accordingly, I now have to bring more Christmas trees from Zala, because my children also want those beautiful trees. However, the Christmas lunch traditionally takes place at our place, we open the big table and sit sixteen or seventeen people around. Because Christmas is a family holiday, it should be celebrated together.
– Is the preparation common?
– As much as possible, yes. This is a close-knit family, even in the summer there is always a week that we spend together at the Zala estate. This cohesion is not just a phrase, it has a concrete use. Everyone has some area in which they thrive easily and do what they can for those who can't, or who could only do it with more difficulty. Taking care of the grandchildren from time to time is more than included in the "overhead", but also that if some office administration is needed, it will be done for us. Not that we can't do it, but it's easier and faster for them. This is how a family works.
– Where will Christmas Eve be?
– Here, but not in the evening, because the spouses' families also exist, and they want to celebrate with them as well. The preparations include the acquisition of quality raw materials. I am from Zala, my wife is from Cegléd, we get what we need from the countryside. I won't cut the mangalica this year, I won't until January, but I already have fish, wild rabbit, and quality tripe in the fridge. We will determine the Christmas menu together.
– I'd rather ask your lovely wife about the pleasures of the kitchen, women are much more knowledgeable about this. It can't be easy to bake and cook for so many people...
– This also takes place together. Bagels are not the fashion here, but we bake cakes together from 3 kilos of flour. Not only girls but boys also enjoy it. And those who know help in preparing the other dishes. Imre is the cooker, but he doesn't cook, but he cleans, chops and does what he needs to do. Christmas lunch is my present, but it's easier if I have help. By the way, it is customary with us that for name days and birthdays, the celebrant orders the menu, which can only be prepared at home, they insist on this.
– Let's go back to Christmas.
– There is the shared lunch, which not only indicates but also strengthens family togetherness. We do not use cellphones during lunch, this is a strict rule. After lunch, there is the joint Christmas tree decoration, festive toast, singing together and gift giving. Adults don't get presents, and children get something, because it's unnecessary to shower them with gifts. They're only going to play with one anyway, and the rest would go to waste. The one gift is also good, because if it wasn't like that, the competition would start, who will buy them more and bigger gifts, and that makes no sense. After the gift-giving, we eat the cake, which is still lukewarm, and then everyone goes to the other family to celebrate. The important thing is that Christmas means family togetherness, love for each other, and I think we succeed in this.
– This is what we call family.
– What is blasphemous for libs is sacred to us.
Author: György Tóth Jr
Photo: civilek.info
