Monthly newsletters

Newsletter 2016 February

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2016-02-Page1Local government news
Introducing the plans of our recenlty elected mayor, Péter Pistár, for 2016:
 
– Prioritising this year’s budget to create more local workplaces
 
– Continue with the program of local government-employed workforce, focusing on maintaining public areas (roads, parkland) as well as the local vegetable-growing scheme
 
– Improving rainwater drainage and mobile network reception
 

– Continue working with local volunteer and not-for-profit organisations to further improve the quality of life in Nyim, for everyone.

 

2016-02-Pages2-3Customs and Traditions: ‘Chasing winter away’
This month, we chased winter away with our ‘Farsang’, the Hungarian traditional carnival, where children and adults dress up in fancy dress and compete for prizes in front of judges. Food and drink provision – as usual for our events – was a ‘fuddle’: everyone bringing home-baked goods, home-made wines and spirits.
Folk wisdom of the month
(these little verses often rhyme in the Hungarian original):
 
– If fruit flies gather in February, March will still be cold.
 
– 2nd February: Cold on this day foretells and early spring.
 
– 14th February: If sparrows mate on this day, get ready for the spring.
 
16th February: Day of Julianna (Julia ‘name day’, originally based on Catholic calendar of saints). If Julia combs her hair, spring is very near.
 
– 19th February: Day of Zsuzsanna (Susan ‘name day’, originally based on Catholic calendar of saints). Susan will make the skylark sing.
 
– 24th February: Day of Mátyás (Mathias ‘name day’, originally based on Catholic calendar of saints). If Mathias finds ice, he’ll break it, if not, he’ll make it.’
What we have is a wonder-valley!
(Words by János Rátai, Photos by Gábor Hausz)
 
Barely 15 kilometres from the bustling Balaton-shore of Siófok, in the embrace of the Somogy-hills is where our village built its nest about nine hundred years ago. Arriving here feels like entering a completely different world. People usually call such small, hidden places, where the country road ends, ‘dead-end-village’. We say that it is a valley of smiles.
 
Those who believe that the surrounding countryside, the geographical location of a place define its character, are most likely right. Those who turn of road 65 at the edge of Ságvár, cross the small stone bridge of the brook, and find themselves facing the views of the village are going to hear themselves saying: How friendly!
It does indeed look like a little birds’ nest, cradled among the protective, gentle hills. Even its streets differ from others: they are not like fish bones, neatly arranged along two sides, but rather like the branches of a shrub, full of life and joy.
<People also make this place what it is.> We have six local, not-for-profit organisations: Foundation for the Village of Nyim, Association for the Pleasant Environment of Nyim, The Cultural Heritage Society, Community Support Officers, Youth Association, Nyim Horse- and Dog-Therapy Association. We have a lot to look after, take care of, and also display to others. In a nearby field stands the famous tree of the outlaw, Andy Horseshoe (Patkó Bandi fája), there are the remnants of an early medieval hill-fort (Kási vár) <See http://nyim.hu/en/history/ for more details about local history.> We have two churches, a more recently built Reformed Church, an older, baroque Catholic church; memorials for the victims of the world wars and the revolution of 1956; a community cultural centre, hunters’ lodge, mustang-ranch; playground for the little ones, football pitch for the older ones, a horse- and dog-training ground for both; and, of course, we also have many events every year. All in all, we have many things, hard to list, that require the work and care of the 318 residents of our village.
 
But, as our mayor says (because we also have a mayor called Péter Pistár): Sometimes it is good to get together just for the pleasure of it – because it is good to be together in the valley of smiles. Granted, we also have our worries. People living in the county of Somogy know how hard it can be to get by from one day to the next. This can be true for those living in Nyim. But this place has given them something else as well. All visitors will find that smiles are best on the faces of those who have seen some hardship.
We also have a rose-garden by the brook. Since 2007 all new-born babies are given a rose bush which will grow for them – while these children grow for us. And when they grow old, they will tell stories – there will be many to tell.
 
We also have <the story of> the oldest resident, Mrs Vera Csák, who is 86 years old. In next month’s issue we’ll get to know her a bit more.
2016-02-Page4
Invitation to an event in March:

In Hungary, International Women’s
Day has been celebrated on the 8th March since 1948. Continuing with this tradition, the local heritage society would like to invite your for its annual dinner and ball, to be held on Saturday the 12th March in our local community centre. Entrance including dinner: 1000 HUF. Without: 500 HUF.

Invitation to an event in March:
 
To commemorate the 1848-49 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence, a small ceremony will be held on 15th March, staring from the community centre. For more information about this historical event, please visit:http://nyim.hu/en/history/
Religious news:
Lent starts on 10th February this year.

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