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Zrínyi Days- Szigetvár

Hello Guys,

I hope you had a nice couple of weeks since my last post “Moved On”.

As I mentioned, I would like to introduce you to my “home town”, Szigetvár and its biggest event the Zrínyi Days. I was born in this small town, however, I grew up and my parents still live in a small village next to it. 

Szigetvár is in Baranya county, South-west Hungary, only 25-30 km far from the Croatian border. Around ten thousand people live in this place. This small town was significant during the 1500 years when Sultan Suleiman The Magnificent tried to conquer the world. His way was during my little town and in 1566 he attacked the fortress. Long story short, the head of the fortress Nicholas Zríny with only 2500 soldiers held the fortress for 34 days against the around fifty thousand Ottoman army. On 7th September 1566, when the fortress was on fire and Zríny could not hold it anymore, instead of surrendering, at dawn he and his only 300 soldiers left, he ran out of the fortress and they died as heroes. The Ottomans had a huge loss during the siege of Szigetvar and even when they got the fortress, the Sultan died and they had to retreat to the South, so their expedition to Vienna during Buda failed and they only could try to do it again in 1687, more than hundred years later. And that’s why Szigetvár celebrates every single year at the beginning of September the Zrínyi Days in honour of the heroes who died in the battle.

Since 1833 every year the town has organised these event series. There were several programs this year too. Including memorial ceremonies, theatres, concerts, gastronomical, children and tradition-keeping programs. Doesn’t matter how old are you, you will find something interesting. The program series started on 7 September and ended with the traditional fireworks on 10 September. The programs are around the whole city. The concerts took place in the city centre, the Zrínyi square, the theatres were in the Vigadó building, and the Attach was around the fortress. On Castle Street these days you can buy the best quality Hungarian handmade products, but if you love the funfair, you won’t be disappointed. There were so many folklore groups, Croatians (as Zríny wasn’t just Hungarian, he was also a Croatian Ban), Szigetvár has a brother town in Turkey too, therefore their tradition keepers came to visit and of course Szigetvár’s two Zrínyi folklore groups. On the last day of the program series after noon in every hour, you could hear an arsenal. Every hour as many shut as many hours until 8 pm when the ending ceremony started after the last gunfire.

I remember when I was a kid we always waited these days, especially Sunday’s closing day. Everyone around the town gathered together. The kids could watch the “battle” and after that, we had some chimney cake or cotton candy. But the most amazing was the closing ceremony. Everyone gathered together in the fortress, we listened to our National Hymn, the mayor had his speech, and when everyone was done, the “magic” started… the fireworks. It wasn’t as huge as the bonfire night at Alexandra Palace or the New Year’s Eve fireworks in London, but it was always the best because the family and friends were together.

After almost eleven years in London, I could visit the Zrínyi days and guess what… still these small fireworks are the most amazing, but this year it was special to me because it wasn’t just the closing day of the Zrínyi Days…nope… because it was the closing event of one of the most amazing weekend I could spend with my family without the nervousness that I have to leave them and with the feeling that I’ve made it. I made it to be there on my nephew’s first birthday and I made it to be there on my brother’s 30th birthday. Also, I made it to be there for the fireworks. I know it sounds cheesy, but this is the truth, We do not appreciate anything enough the small things in our lives… that’s why in my next post, I will bring up some small, but very important things from my life and talk about the differences between my lovely little village and London.

However, if you wish to know more about Szigetvár, trust me there are some programs and places to visit during the year, (even if there are no Zrínyi Days) such as the museum and the Turkish mosque in the fortress, the thermal bath, theatres or even just a few kilometres the Villányi wine yards, you can visit the town’s website here. 

I hope you enjoyed it and you will consider SpitFire up my little town in the future (Let me know if you coming and I am more than happy to guide you.) 😉

XOXO,

Krisz😘

P.S.: Don’t forget: Don’t have to be always strong to be a Hero. Also, follow me on at least one of the below. 😘

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Let’s move on

Hello Guys,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying the Summer. First I would like to apologise for the fact that I haven’t posted for a while now. I promise I have a very good reason and I will share it with you in this post.

I mentioned earlier that I´m working on a “big project”…well after more than 10 years living in London, I decided to relocate back to Hungary at least for a year. I know, it is shocking.😅 However, after soo many discussions with family, friends, and people I usually listen to, I decided that this is the best for me at the moment (or at least this is what I feel is the best). Lately, my friends are moved back to their countries, life in London changed a lot after the pandemic and my last visit at home during Christmas time woke me up. 

I usually wait for two things in the year and these two things are my holidays at home with my friends and family. I am the happiest when I am surrounded by them. I am laughing more, I feel better and I feel alive. 

My life in London became just a huge waiting time, while I have done nothing just worked, came home, eat, took a shower and sleep. Don’t get me wrong, I know it is my fault, but still, I was always tired and anxious. I became depressed, even though I had a nice career, and friends and I loved my life in London, I felt sad and lonely. Then I realised, I must change… drastically. First of course I had to start the change in my head and slowly turn my anxiety to hope, but still, I felt something is missing. I was wondering for years if I go back is just a run from my life, but after I moved into a nice place, I had a nice job and nice friends, I still felt this pull… the pull I haven’t felt in 10 years… the one that says, now you need to go and try. No matter what it will be, if you don’t try, you will regret it forever.

So I decided to relocate to Hungary. Why do I say relocate and not “move”? Simple brain hack. My anxiety and depression kicked in when one of my best friends at home ask me The Question: “So do you now move back to Hungary FOREVER?” Well… I started to sweat, I couldn´t bread, I felt I will die for sure… then I started to think… Do I want to move back forever? What if I change my mind? Do they all will be disappointed? Do I need to stay? What if I will change my mind? What if I will not like it after a year? All these questions just came into my mind at once… I felt tired, overwhelmed and to be honest, I just realised that I do not wish to move anywhere FOREVER. But I will buy a one-way ticket to Hungary and all my stuff will be transferred back… so technically, I will move back… and then I started to question everything (I know, again)… Is it really what I want or it is just an escape from my life? 

In the end, I figured out that nothing last FOREVER. I do not HAVE TO do anything. And my brain loves the idea that I go back for at least a year and once the year ends, I will see how I feel. I have a fully settled status in the UK, so in the next 5 years, I can come back anytime. My landlady and her family love me, so she said my flat will be available for me always, no matter who will live in it, they will take it out for me, and my workplace offered the same. 

So finally I decided to try. It wasn´t that quick and easy decision like it was 10 years ago to move here. First I started to think about it 4-5 years ago, we had soo many discussions with my friends here and there too about it, but in the end, I have two (a million others as well) very strong reasons why I do this: 

  1. As I mentioned in the previous post What is your “why”? My biggest why is my nephew. It was always hard to leave behind my friends’ kids, my parents, and my friends, but when I had to handle back my (at that time) 4 months old nephew…my heart was broken. I don´t want to be the aunty who just sending sh@ts and never there. I want to be there for him and never miss any birthdays or Easterns or any other occasions.
  2. At some point, everyone has to grow up and take responsibility. I can live in London and years just come and go and I will be in the same place in my life as I was last year or the years before. My life in London is an extended teenage life. I am having fun, I have money to buy sh@ts, and I have a job, but at the end of the day, most likely I am alone. Almost everyone important to me is in Hungary or will be.

I love my life in London and possibly I will come back or I will go and live somewhere else in the World, but at the moment I feel I need to go home for a bit and see how it will work (or not) for me after more than 10 years living in abroad. 

So I will continue to write blog posts, don´t worry, just not that often until the end of August. But I do not wish you to miss my moving fun, I want to include you guys, so I am working on making short videos and uploading them here, on YouTube and all the social media platforms, so please follow the Spitfires. Also, I am planning to do some mini-courses about mental health, motivation and positive life set later this year, so please just stay with me. During my videos, I also concur with my fears (my first fear is to upload my first video and see how you like me or don´t) and also give you some tips regarding moving out of the UK with a positive mindset of course. Obviously from the end of August, I will show you places in Hungary. I will move next to Hungary´s biggest lake, called Balaton, so I will have enough to share with you and we will continue our positive SpitFirey journey together, only my physical location will change.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank you for all your support here on the blog and on the social media platforms too in the last few years. Hopefully, these videos will help me not just keep my English, but get to know you guys better. 

I will bring the first video soon, but until that, please remember: Don’t have to be always strong to be a Hero.

XOXO,

Krisz😘

Facebook: @SpiritSpitfires

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Love is a bridge …

XOXO,

Krisz😘

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Motivation

XOXO,

Krisz😘

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Dear never greater than excitement

XOXO,

Krisz 😘

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3 steps, and you have a price tag

Hello, hello

I hope you had a lovely week and had so much fun. As I mentioned in my previous post, I started to write this post and I was almost done, but then life happened and I re-wrote it. Don’t worry, I still write about the price tags, how, when, why, and what to do with those (little) buggers. I will share my 3 steps technique. 😎

We all know that if you want to buy something, you will get a little tag on it with the price. That’s normal when you go shopping. Doesn’t matter if it is clothes, shoes, groceries, electronics, or any other stuff, it will come with a price tag. We also know that nothing is free in the world. We pay for our internet, electricity, gas (for the last two we pay a lot nowadays), hairdresser, cosmetics, nail technician, gym, etc. So we pay for everything that we want. And these things are normal and we do not even think about these tags, because we know these are the “extras” and we learned at a very young age that we have money, so we pay for the things we buy exactly the amount that is on these little tags. (Unless you are in Hungary in the market, there you must negotiate the price Baby! 😅)

What are the price tags? Of course, we know that these things will tell us how much it cost the desired item or service we wish to have. Simple, easy, and common sense. No one needs to think about how much a new dress will cost (which by the way you need because you do not have anything to wear on Saturday night when you go out with the girls… that’s obvious), because there is the price tag and you can decide by the price if it is worth it for you or not (guess what, the new dress will worth the price and no, doesn’t matter the numbers, trust me). And we all know this, but there is something that no one teaches us in school, no one explains and everyone assumes that you know…everything comes with a price tag means, literally EVERYTHING, even your dreams and especially your goals.

The question is never whether you will have to pay for your wishes or not…no. The question is always: how much? But with our dreams, goals, and desires it is tricky because you cannot find a price tag that will tell you that, if you decide to chase your dreams means you will not see your family for maybe at least 1,5- 2 years, do you want this? No. No one will provide a price tag for those things, but trust me you will get them sooner or later. So how do you know the price tag, if no one telling you? How you can decide if your price tag is worth it or not? Well, that’s why when you set up a goal, you have to set up a price tag too. Otherwise, if you wait for Life/God/Universe to give you one… well, I am 99% sure you will not like it, but far worst, you will hate it as hell. Life always tests us. Just like a mother testing their child if they are sure they want pizza for breakfast (yes, for breakfast, and yes they will want it), Life will test you the same way. It will ask you if you are sure you want that desired thing. Also if we think about it is easier than with the other things in our life, because if you go to the grocery store and they say the milk’s price is xyz, you buy the milk for that price and you are not able to change it (okay, I know you can buy in another store, or find the cheapest in elsewhere, or go to the Hungarian market and negotiate, but please stick to the theory). However, you can decide how much will cost your goals, and how much you are willing to pay for them. Also, you can increase or decrease the amount, at any time.

So the last question is, how do we set up our dreams’ prices? (We already decided what we want, and we have our “why” too, furthermore we even brainstormed what things will make us happy, so that could be indicators as well.) How I do, it when I set up a price for my goals, is super easy. Only 3 steps.

  1. I take a piece of paper and write everything that I think I will have to do to achieve my goal. Everything. Even the smallest things. I usually do not stop until I have at least 50 items on my list, that’s the minimum and no maximum. (brainstorm)
  2. Once it is done, I will start to rate them from 1 to 10 on how likely I will want to do the thing. 1 is for me the “No, Not at all, Never Ever” and 10 is the “Hell yeah! Let’s do this Baby!”
  3. When  I have the rated list, I will just summarize the things which were rated between 8 and 10. To make sure it is clear. After that just mark 3 or 5, so you will not feel overwhelmed and you most likely will do those 3-5 things. Guess what? Those things will be your goal’s price tag.😘

Do you see? I told you it is very easy. Okay so let’s see an example from my past and then I will let you have fun with your own price tags. So during the pandemic, I decided to lose weight. Not because I was fat, but because I wanted to be healthier and in better shape. I knew I wanted to lose at least 5kg (sorry guys, you convert it for yourself, I can’t and don’t want to please everyone😘). (I have done the 7 levels of deep, below the “What is your “why”?” post, someone asked me for an example from me regarding this exercise and shared there in a comment my “why?” for this.)

  1. I have set down and listed everything that I thought I could do to get the result. For example, exercise 2 hours a day, lift weights, eat more vegetables and fruits, leave bread, no pasta, no sweets, no hamburgers, drink at least 2l water a day, sleep at least 8 hours, etc. The list was soooooo long. 
  2. Sleep, drink water, eat more healthy stuff: Absolutely 10, “Hell yeah!” I will do those things, I love them. Easy baby!😎 But no pasta, no bread, no sweets?!?!?! NOOOO. “No, Never Ever!!!” 😱
  3. Last step, to make sure I will not feel overwhelmed and exhausted, I made a list that every day I will drink 2l water, sleep at least 8 hours, and eat healthier, but I will count calories (eat everything, but make sure smaller portions), Sunday is my cheat day, so I can eat sweets and exercise a lot (which is easy for me because I am still hyperactive). 

This was my price tag. I could and would pay this price to lose weight. I can confirm that I did. In 6 months I lost 5kg without suffering because I find my way, the way was fit for me and I knew what the price would be and I was willing to pay it. 

Also very important as I always say, to listen to yourself. This exercise helped me to set up my goals or achieve them, but may it will not be yours. I have tried many other things until I found the techniques which work for me. So try it and if it works, fine, if not, well don’t worry, there are millions of other exercises. You just need to find the one which will fit you. Oh, and you can change it just as the shops do with their prices… either you can raise or lower down. No limits and no failure if you feel that something is not worth it anymore.

Now, come on, GOOOO, and set up your goals’ price tags, but before you start don’t forget to (Spit)fire up yourself.

Love you guys and make sure you know that: Don’t have to be always strong to be a Hero.😘

XOXO,

Krisz😘

P.S.: Any questions, or concerns, please DM me on Instagram, or Facebook or just leave a comment. Love you all! 

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Dolce far niente

Hello!!!!!

I know it’s been two weeks since my last post and I promised I would share some tools to get out of feeling burnt out, but life happened. Actually, I started to write about the price tags last week and I am almost done so that you can read it soon, but first I wanted to talk about doing something really important from time to time for our perfect healing. It is “Dolce Far Niente”. 

I know you are confused and you think I am actually crazier than ever (except if you are one of my Italian friends or readers because I am sure you guys are laughing so hard). That’s okay. I started to learn Italian. Actually, I am very good at the cookies’ names now, which is so hard because I have to try a lot to know about their meanings, but everything for learning.😅 As you all know I love Italy and everything that is Italian, but this came from totally elsewhere. And I confused you more.😅Sorry, this is when ADHD hits during writing. Let me clear the air. 

Last Sunday I woke up after a really nice and relaxing sleep and I felt I want to do nothing. Not because I was sad or depressed, no. I actually just wanted to have one PJ day. I haven’t had it since a long time ago and I just felt I want to stay in my bed, watch movies, and not even bother to dress up. Then I felt the guilt. I am sure you all know the feeling. You want to do nothing, but you have miles-long to-do lists. Clean the house, cooks something for dinner, walk the dog, take care of your kids, maybe do some laundry, etc. I know just as my list goes on and on and on and always came new things, as yours too. I was hesitating. I should come out of bed and do my million tasks, because on Monday I will have to go to the office again (okay, I am lying now, because my Monday was off last week, but that’s another different story) and when I arrive home, I feel so tired and the lists of the excuses are the only longer list than my to-do list. So I felt guilty and lazy. I have projects in my life and if I stay one day in my bed, I waste so much time actually doing something to feel better and achieve my goals.  (We talked previously about what is the difference between being lazy or you give yourself the necessary time to heal, but we will later on for sure.) I started to panic as well, so total chaos and it was five minutes after I had my coffee. And then the miracle happened. I realized the most important tool I have to share with you first is “Dolce Far Niente”. (Also I have to use it in my life.)

I love Eta, Pray, Love movie, not just because they happened to be in the most beautiful places in the World or because Julia Roberts is one of my favorite actresses…no. I love this movie (and the book too) because it teaches you basic lifehacks. Unfortunately, not all of us can hit the pause button and just quit our life for a year to travel around the world and find ourselves, but if you watch the movie, you can discover so many lessons. 

And one of the most important is “the sweetness of doing nothing”. That’s what dolce far niente means. Of course, Italians are the masters of it, but we can learn as well. And if we wish to be healthy we should. I don’t say that you leave your kids behind and go for a weekend alone to rest. Not everyone can afford it or do it, but I say that you should have at least 1-2 hours each week when you don’t do anything and do not feel guilty. If you can have a day even better. To have time with yourself is just as much important then to get the tools and doing the actual work. You have one life, do whatever you like to do, what makes you feel happy. Of course, until you not hurting other people around you. I don’t say you should quit your life, we all have responsibilities but start to think about what you really want, what you enjoy.

You know what? This is today’s tool kit, called brainstorm. Take a piece of paper and write down everything you like in your life. Every single thing that makes you happy. List what makes you excited. Everything. We have five main aspects of our life: Social, financial, mental, physical, and emotional. This is the exercise. So simple. Just write down each category and write next to them what makes you happy. Once it is done, you will feel better and you know where to start your healing process. Circle three things (the most important ones in the category) and start to focus on how you can make them more.

This is how you will enjoy your life, this is how you will enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing. Because you need it. Everyone needs it. So guess what I have done last Sunday? Yes, you are right, nothing and I enjoyed all the minutes of it.😊

We don’t always need to overcomplicate our lives, just listen to your soul/instincts/gut, and it will tell you what you need. And if it says that you need to do nothing…well, who you are to question the big Universe/God/Mother Earth/ All Living? Put your hands on it and enjoy your gelato. 

Oh, and don’t forget: Don’t have to be always strong to be a Hero.😘

XOXO,

Krisz😘

P.S.: Any questions, or concerns, please DM me on Instagram, or Facebook or just leave a comment. Love you all!

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3 Steps to stop being a “people pleaser”

Hello,

One week ago I wrote about how I burnt out and started to “come back” as usual. I shared my 4 steps to begin the journey, however, if you do not find the root cause of your burnout, it will return. It can be millions of reasons why, but that’s something, you will have to find out for yourself (remember: sit down and just ask questions, and your brain will answer). What I wanted to talk about today is one of the most common reasons, what I saw in my inner circle…and that’s my friends: people pleasing. 

What is “people pleasing”? Well, did you ever experience someone asking you something, someone who is important in your life (can be a family member, your boss, a friend, doesn’t matter) and you really didn’t want to do that thing, but you did it anyway? That’s “people pleasing”. You know when you feel you need rest, but your mother calls you to go to the family dinner on Sunday, while your plan was just to be in your bed and watch Netflix. Or, when you do not want to dress up to go to the shop, but you do it anyway, because of what the people will say in the village. Or, you do not have time and capacity to do another task, but when someone asks you, you do it anyway, because you want them to like you. When you push yourself and your needs in front of another (not because you want to, only because you feel you have to), that is “people pleasing”. Or trying to be perfect.

(Let’s make something clear.  We don’t talk about the situations when your parents or partner ask you to take out the rubbish or clean your room/house or the cooking is your turn… that’s laziness and you know it, so I just want to make sure that this post will not be an excuse next time when they will ask you.😅)

Why do we do that? Why do we want to be perfect for everyone around us?  First thing first, we all do that from time to time, (someone more often than others), so don’t be hard on yourself. Based on my experience, based on my and other people’s research (listen to Mel Robbins’s podcast about it, or read her book, just to mention one person who is an expert on this subject) we all do it because of our fears. 

From what do we fear? They will not accept us, they will judge, their opinion, how they will see us, etc. We can call it how we want, but guess what? We all basically want to be loved. So we do everything to make sure that people will love/like us. We try to be perfect, we pretend that we are who we are not, just to make sure that we make others happy, so we can get their love. You are afraid to say NO because you will feel guilty that you put yourself in front of others. Because in our society there are 2 types of people: either selfish or people pleaser. No middle way. You want to make sure that everyone gets what they want around you, so they are happy and they love you. Let me tell you something. This is absolutely my experience. BULLSHIT! If someone loves you, will love you even if you say no sometimes. These people will love you no matter what and the funny part is that they want you to be happy just as much as you do want them to be happy. So if you do what they ask but in the meantime, you are exhausted, anxious, and depressed, they will not be happy, because they cannot see the happiness in your eyes. 

I read this, heard this, and watched this so many times and in so many places, but for me, this was one of the most important lessons I have learned in my life: If you are not happy, you are not able to make others happy. First, you have to be happy, so you have happiness in your heart and you can give it to others. You cannot give something that you don’t have. Do you want your kids, family, your partner, your friends, your boss, your colleagues, and your neighbors to be happy? Be happy first and they will be happy because you are happy and if you are happy you are able to give love. It will not work in the opposite way. Your “love tank” needs to be full first.

Okay, I know now so many of you say “yes, but in this case, we will be selfish”. Yes, you have to be a bit. But my opinion of taking care of ourselves until we do not hurt others is just self-care. You have to take care of yourself and love yourself to be able to live and give it to others, so if you don’t make any damage to others, is it really selfishness or is it self-care? You see, huge difference.

Okay, so how do we stop to be a “people pleaser”, but not become selfish? I have my 3 “exercises” I usually do (but as you see, I burnt out too, so sometimes I forget to use these things, and that’s okay. We are human and we are not and don’t have to be perfect- we can’t).

  1. Questions. Ask yourself questions. “Do I really want this? Is it really good for me? Am I lazy or it is legit why I don’t want XYZ? What can I do today to make me happier? What is important to me? Do I hurt anyone, if I don’t XYZ?”- You will feel it. Your brain will start to search for the answers and you will feel and know the right answers for you.
  2. Say NO! You can, you should and you are allowed to say NO. I know this is hard sometimes and you feel the guilt, but you must. I don’t say to start an argument and shout. No! Just tell to the person how you feel. In the beginning, when you start to create your boundaries, people will test you. Life will test you. Sometimes you would say yes, just to avoid the conflict and let yourself be, but if you do it, you will feel tired again and you can start everything from the beginning. You will learn to love yourself if you can hold your boundaries. (FYI: The people who love you, will understand and continue to love you. But it will be hard because some of the people who do not love you enough will be left from your life.)
  3. Do something that makes you happy every day. Don’t care about what others would say, or how stupid it sounds, just do it. Something, anything. Doesn’t matter just makes you smile. Be silly, be crazy, and be yourself. (I know it is hard because people want you to be yourself, but “please not that much”. It will be a different post for sure.)

At the end of the day, the most important person in your life should be you, because when you are in your bed, you are alone with yourself (even if someone sleeping next to you). If you are not happy, do you really FEEL happiness about the fact that you made everyone else happy? Be honest with yourself.

Well, I hope it helps guys. I am with you and we stepping together to get back our (Spit)fire. 😘

Don’t forget: Don’t have to be always strong to be a Hero.

XOXO,

Krisz😘

P.S.: (This post is based on my experiences and what I see around me, but please know I don’t think it is the TRUTH, every one of us is different. May what makes sense to me, it will not make any sense to you.)

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Merry Christmas to everyone! 🎄😘

XOXO,

Krisz 😘

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Santa is coming tonight

Hello, hello…

…or should I say Hohohohoooo?! 🎅

I know some of you are just looking at the title and have no idea what I am talking about because today is only the 5th of December. Let me explain to you and I promise until we finish here you will go and clean your boots (okay, sneakers will work too 😉). Okay, now, I am sure you lost (except if you are from Hungary).

So I know most of the world celebrates Christmas and Santa brings presents on the 25th of December…well not in Hungary. Don’t worry, we have Christmas and we get presents too (in my family we open the presents on Christmas eve), but in Hungary Jesus brings the presents and the Christmas tree too on Christmas eve (yes, we do not decorate the Christmas tree until the 24th of December’s afternoon)… so now you wonder, what we do with Santa?!

Well, we do nothing with him, but he brings us presents on the 6th of December night. I do not wish to explain the whole history of this tradition, because is more religious and I do not want to mix this here, but I can explain the actual tradition. 

So in Hungary (and some of the other European countries too) at this time, the kids are cleaning their boots and preparing them for the night. On the 5th of December evening, we had to clean our boots and leave them in the window before we get ready for bed. We had to make sure that they are nice and shiny and left them in the windows to make sure that Santa easily can find them During this magical night Santa picks up his sleigh and all his reindeer (we are not that weirdo, we call them on the same name the same as the rest of the world does) and deliver the presents to the kids. Fill up the boots with lots of nice things. Nowadays the kids get maybe some small toys too, but the original tradition is that Santa only brings sweets and chocolates (in my grandparents’ childhood was a bit different, they had fruits, sweets, and nuts)…lots of chocolates. During this time of the year, you can buy small packs full of different kinds of sweets or you can make them your own (the only must-have is the Santa figure) or just leave the goodies as it is in the footwear. But one thing is sure, everyone gets something…

…and here you can ask “what about the bad kids”. Well, the bad kids don’t get anything or they only get “sorghum” (I am not sure you have a proper word for this thing, so you can see a picture of it below). Actually, still, today parents threaten their kids during the year (or should I say blackmailing?) with the fact that if they do not behave or be nice, Santa will not give them anything or they will get only a big bounce of sorghum. (Let’s make something clear, I have it sometimes, but because I was a bad kid… I was always cheeky. Just for clarity.😋)

The week of the 6th of December Santa goes to schools, kindergartens, and nurseries (even into the Library in Hobol, search for it!) and brings small presents and chocolates to the kids (szaloncukor, it is a traditional Hungarian bonbon only for Christmas). The kids decorate the houses, and the institutes, and sing songs to Santa when he arrives.

As a sweet tooth, this is one of my favorite traditions. And the answer is YES, I cleaned my boots already. 😉

So have fun, clean your boots and if you were good enough during this year, maybe you will find something in your footwear tomorrow morning.😘

Love you guys and Happy Santa day for tomorrow!🎅

XOXO,

Krisz😘

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