Honorary Hungarians Of A Festive Type Of Nature

Please be warned, this post contains a mahooooooooosive faux pas in our usually flawless continuity! Our apologies to the more purist of our readers, especially our much loved Mr D, in wonderful and romantic Mexico, who will no doubt spot our error within seconds!!!!! What can we say, except, on this occassion, we’ve been found seriously wanting!

On Christmas Eve we became seriously, honorary Hungarians, coming to the festive aid of Kata, our beloved neighbour across the hallway.

In Kata’s “family”, the tradition is, that while the family are out on Christmas Eve (in this instance, Laci, her husband, taking their little boy to see the Christmas lights and Kata supposedly “just nipping up to Lidl”), the angel would come, leaving a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with presents carefully arranged under it …….

……. and we had just half an hour in which to “create the magic” ………

Darrell got all of Krisztian’s presents from our bathroom, where we’d been harbouring them in the bath for the past few weeks, but fear not, we were still able to use the “spare” ensuite shower in the meantime, so our festive hygiene was in no way compromised by such guardianship.

Once the tree was released, unfettered from it’s netting, the lights were quickly added, followed by all the baubles, some from actual, real life Hungary and Kata’s childhood.

Naturally, Darrell wanted to primp, fuss and twiddle with said baubles to give perfect balance and symmetry ………

…… but when the immanent coming of an angel is involved, time is of the essence.

However, I still think we gave a most excellent account of ourselves, it was indeed magical, especially for a small boy, with dreams of a mountain of Hot Wheel cars.

  

We were left with just enough time for Kata to quickly place a piece of traditional poppy seed and walnut roll in our hands (the poppy seed, symbolizing richness and good health and the walnuts to protect us against bad luck), before hurrying us out of the door, as the return of Krisztian and his dad was all but seconds away and we were not to be seen.

Let’s just say ……… it was emotional …… and made us soooooooo glad that for our own Christmas Eve, all we had to do was just put a tray out for Santa, leave some carrots for the reindeer and then go to bed ……… knowing that he would do the rest!