SLOVAK PARTNERS IN REGION
Slovak people in Szarvas
Szarvas is located 45 kilometers out of Békéscsaba.
After the expulsion of Turkish people, III. Károly gave a big part of Szarvas and Békés county to Harruckern János György. Harruckern populated the settlement mainly with Slovak serfs. The first inhabitants, 34 families, came from Zólyom, Nógrád, Hont and Pest county. The settlers concluded the settlement contrat with the Harruckern empire on 23 July 1722.
Our ancestors were insistent and hardworking. At all times Slovaks insistently took care of the intellectual and cultural heritage. These heritages are really important for us, including customs, traditions, the language and the culture.
In honor of our Slovak ancestors, we built a Settlement Memorable Stone in 2002 in front of the Evangelical Church.
Twin towns in Slovakia: Poprád and Malacky
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Contact:
Szarvas Város Szlovák Nemzetiségi Önkormányzata,
5540 Szarvas, Eötvös u.44/1.
Elérhetősége: + 36 20 315 7392
e-mail: szlovakonk.szarvas@gmail.com
The cultural association of the Slovakian people of Szarvas - Vernosť
The Slovak National Club was founded in September of 1980 which worked till 1989. It was important to them to keep the heritage alive and stay in touch with the Slovaks living nearby.
After 9 years, the Church got the building, therefore the Slovak Club was terminated.
The club was restarted in 1994 ,like The cultural association of the Slovakian people of Szarvas – Vernosť.
Young people are also involved in preserving the Slovakian traditions therefore there is a close relation between the teachers of the local Slovak school.
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Contact:
Szarvasi Szlovákok Kulturális Köre – Vernosť,
5540 Szarvas, Eötvös u.44/1.
Elérhetősége: + 36 20/221-8758
Tessedik Folkdance Group
Tessedik Folkdance Group was founded in 1968. It’s been working with the Association for the Protection of Slovakian Heritage. Since 1990 Their task is to preserve and to keep the traditions alive.
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Contact:
5540 Szarvas, Kossuth tér 3.
Telefonszám: +36-20 540 8010
E-mail: csasztvana59@gmail.com
Slovak people in Telekgerendás
Telekgerendás is a village, founded in 1952, and is located near Békéscsaba, between the rivers Körös and Maros.
The native inhabitants of the region were farmers, who worked around the farmstead. They settled down in the second half of the 18th century on the border of Békéscsaba.
The presence of Slovaks is indicated by signs with Slovakian inscriptions on the border of the settlement and in their office in the House of Culture.
Twin town in Slovakia: Bzovík
Contact:
Telekgerendási Szlovákok Nemzetiségi Önkormányzata
5675. Telekgerendás, Dózsa Gy. u 13.
e-mail: szlovak@telekgerendas.hu
Minority Council of Slovaks of Telekgerendás
5675. Telekgerendás, Dózsa Gy. u 13.
e-mail: szlovak@telekgerendas.hu
Slovak cultural activity in the settlement
The Minority Council of Slovaks of Telekgerendás represents the Slovakian cultural activity, in close cooperation with „the Borouka Peacock Circle”, which is a registered civil organization in Telekgerendás.
The Slovak club (Peacock Circle) has been operating since 1975, and was registered in 2009 as Borouka Peacock Circle of Telekgerendás in the village.
The Peacock Circle collects, handles and spreads the local and the Slovakian national culture, which are conveyed on their own programmes, as well as by being involved in various actions. Beside the musical virtues – zither and harmonica backing – they try to preserve other areas of the national culture, like cuisine and customs. The most significant of these programmes are The Friendly Meeting of Slovaks and The Corn Festival
Slovak people in Kétsoprony
Kétsoprony is located 18 km westward of Békéscsaba. The village has approximately 1500 residents. Most of them are of Slovak origin.
The village is completely new, but its history started in the period of populating Hungary. The name of the village is of Slavonic origin. Slavonic people lived here during the settling, and were stock farmers. Their animals were kept in corrals, in so-called „sopas”, hence the name „Soprony”. They have been using the present-day name of the village since 1952.
The presence of Slovaks is indicated by signs with Slovakian inscriptions on the walls of the village’s institutions and on bilingual appellations of the streets.
In 2003 they erected a headstone in honor of their ancestors in the local cemetery
Sister city/Twin town in Slovakia: Hriňová
Contact
Slovak Village Council of Kétsoprony
5674 Kétsoprony, Dózsa Gy. u. 11.
Elérhetősége: 00 36 20 484 1125
e-mail: ketsopr.szlov.onkorm@gmail.com
Horenka Association for the Protection of Slovakian Heritage in Kétsoprony
5674 Kétsoprony, Ady E. u. 3.
00 36 66/246-134
e-mail: janosne@zelenyanszki.hu
Slovak cultural activity in the settlement
The Slovak local government of Kétsoprony represents the Slovakian cultural activity in close cooperation with the Slovak Village Council of Kétsoprony, Horenka Association for the Protection of Slovakian Heritage, which is a registered civil organization, the zither band „Rosička” and the folk dance company of the local school.
The organization „Horenka” has been operating in the village since 2002, and was registered in 2010 as the Horenka Association for the Protection of Slovakian Heritage in Kétsoprony. The zither band „Rosička”, including pensioners and students, was founded in 2007.
The organizations principally aim to cultivate Slovakian traditions, especially to collect Slovakian folk songs - with zither and harmonica backing. Furthermore, they work in cooperation with the local government and organize pastime activities in Slovakian atmosphere, and inform the children of school age about the Slovaks’ values and introduce them to the hidden treasures of the Slovaks. The local religious primary school has Slovak language courses. Their two most important programmes are the Slovak Tea Party (Sweet Weekend) and the Folk Festival on the Day of the Village.
Slovak people in Elek
Elek is located 125 km from Békéscsaba and 18 km from Gyula. 4 different minorities are to be found in the village.
The first written source dates back to 1242, the settlement gained its town status in 1992. According to the publication „Studies for Elek’s history” Slovaks have already lived in Elek in 1924, according to the census of 1900, 16 Slovaks lived here. In 1947 approximately 50 families moved here from Békéscsaba, Tóthkomlós, Szarvas and Gerendás. According to the census of 2011, 52 people claimed Slovakian descent.
The presence of Slovaks is indicated by signs with Slovakian inscriptions on the walls of the village’s institutions and the new house of Slovaks.
Sister city/Twin town in Slovakia: Nagykapos
Contact
Minority Council of Slovaks of Elek
5742 Elek Gyulai út 2.
Tel.: 00 36 66 / 240-132 (Dr. Kuruczné Czvalinga Judit predsedníčka)
00 36 20 / 2209907 (Ficzere Istvánné)
e – mail : margit520804@freemail.hu
Society of Slovaks of Elek
5742 Elek Kossuth u. 13.
Tel.: Döme Tibor predseda 30 / 3462511
Slovak cultural activity in the settlement
The Minority Council of Slovaks of Elek and the Society of Slovaks of Elek represent the Slovakian cultural activity in a close cooperation.
The Minority Council of Slovaks was founded on 7 November 2002 with the purpose of reviving the Slovakian folk culture, the gastronomy and the activity of Slovak club and the Peacock circle, which were active in the 60s and 70s. After that, in 2006 the Society of Slovaks of Elek was registered, and they have been working together since then.
The Slovak people in Elek got a small house (5742 Elek, Kétegyházi út 23.) from the local government for the purpose of helping their function. After the room had been furnished in rustic style, it was granted in August at the world summit of people from Elek.
Beside the world summit their most important events are the Slovak Day, which is organized on the last Saturday of November, and the Pig-slaughtering.
The dance group of Elek and the „Pacsirta”children dance group are also involved in preserving the Slovakian traditions and they also help to school young zither players.
Slovak people in Mezőberény
The first settlers of Mezőberény were Slovaks from the northern shires in 1723, two years later Germans arrived, then Hungarians in 1731. Slovaks lived in the northern, Germans in the central and Hungarians in the southern part of the settlement. The present-day names of the city districts refer to this structure. Because of their protestant ideology, there wasn’t any significant conflict between them. Until the middle of the 19th century, the proportion of Slovaks was 44%.
The presence of Slovaks is indicated by signs with Slovakian inscriptions on the border of the village.
Sister cities/Twin towns in Slovakia: Brezová pod Bradlom, Topolčianky, Kolárovo, Gúta
Contact
Minority Council of Slovaks of Mezőberény
5650 Mezőberény Jeszenszky u. 21.
Tel.: 00 36 20 / 338 66 86 (Cservenák János predseda)
e – mail : cseriapu@gmail.com
Society of Slovaks of Mezőberény
5650 Mezőberény Jeszenszky u. 21.
Tel.: 00 36 20 / 2222 435 (Borgula Jánosné predsedníčka)
e-mail: raffayj@gmail.com
Slovak cultural activity in the settlement
The Society of Slovaks of Mezőberény was founded in 1992. It was registered in 1996.
They work according to their motto: „We believe that respecting our past is the pledge of our future.”
The Minority Council of Slovaks of Mezőberény represents the Slovak cultural activity in a close cooperation with the Society of Slovaks of Mezőberény. They preserve the music culture with zither backing with their Slovak folk song circle, which was founded in 1992, their gastronomy with the so-called mamicska cuisine, moreover they concetrate on the collaboration with local institutions, churches and enterprises. They organize cultural events, give extraordinary presentations in the local educational institutions and they aim to create as many occasions as possible to acquire and practice the Slovakian language. In cooperation with the local Slovak government they have established community places and guest rooms in the Tópart Inn with traditional furniture.
Their most significant events are the Slovak Minority Cultural Day and lighting the advent candles on the main square, together with the represtentatives of other minorities and churches.
Slovak people in Csorvás
The first written source stems from the era of King Matthias. Csorvás-puszta was the property of Baron Harruckern in 1723, but it became an independent settlement in 1827. After the first Slovak settlers, only in the second wave, from 1870 onwards Slovaks settled down there. By this time, the structure of estates had already been formed, that is why only a few Slovaks can be found among the owners. At the turn of the 20th century 75% of the population was Hungarian, 20% Slovak, 2,5% Romanian and 2,5% German. The population belonged to 5 different denominations: Catholic. Evangelical, Calvinist, Romanian orthodox and Jewish. The town hall, the churches and the houses with signs of traditions show the versatility of this young settlement.
Sister city/Twin town in Slovakia: Diószeg
Contact:
Slovak Council of Csorvás
5920 Csorvás, Rákóczi u. 17.
Tel.: 00 36 30 / 3729 705
e-mail: gyimesine.hugyikerzsebet@gmail.com
Slovak cultural activity in the settlement
In the 50s Csarejsné Hrabovszki Ilona – a well-known Slovakian painter – created the Slovak Club and a choir with around 10-12 members. The Slovak Council was founded in 1998. Since this period, the life of Slovaks in Csorvás revived. The Slovak Council have remained in every political cycle. They created a Slovak study circle in the school and donated publications for the local library.
The Society of Slovaks of Csorvás was founded in 2006, and is still functioning as a club today.
In 2004 they granted the Slovak collection, installed in the old school’s classroom, as part of the Pro Urbe Foundation.
Their two most significant events are the Slovak Pig-slaughtering and the Minority Day.
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Slovak people in Csabaszabadi
Csabaszabadi is the yougest settlement of Békés county, which became independent on 1 June 1993. In this period, the 1st-4th grades of primary school were still functioning, which was a criterion for becoming independent. It is located 18km from Békéscsaba. The population is less than 500, among them 50 people claim Slovakian descent. The settlement’s emblem is a Belfry (1995, Szelekovszki László), and their bell rings 3 times a day, because they do not have a church. They recieved this bell from Békéscsaba’s Protestant Church. In the time of Békés County’s resettlement, the firts settlers came from Hradište, in honour of this a memorial park was built in the garden of the local government, with the name of „ Na pamiatku predkov – In remembrance of our ancestors”.
The presence of Slovaks is indicated by signs with Slovak inscriptions on the border of the settlement
Contact:
Slovak Council of Csabaszabadi
5609 Csabaszabadi, Gerendási út 4.
e-mail: slovaciszabad@t-email.hu
web: www.zrnko-magocska.hu
Association for Csabaszabadi
5609 Csabaszabadi, Gerendási út 4.
e-mail: csabaszabadierte@freemail.hu
Slovak cultural activity in the settlement
The local government, the local Slovak government (which has been functioning since 1994) and the local civil organization (which was registered in 1997 and represent several sections, among them the Slovaks, too) organize cultural events in the building of the former rural school. Their first cultural group was a folk song circle, which won the Government of Békés County’s minority award in 2002. The zither players also joined the folk song circle. In the building of the local Slovak government, there is an exhibition on their Slovak sister city’s local history. Slovakian events are organized in turns between the two towns, they together take care of Slovak culture and celebrate their friendship in Hradište and in Csabaszabadi at least once a year. Since 2005 the organization has published a bilingual public newspaper „Zrnko-Magocska”, which is also their homepage’s name. In 2003 the local Slovak government founded the award „For Slovaks in Csabaszabadi”.
Their two most significant events are the Apple Days and the Minority Day.
Slovak Communitiy Cultural Center
The Slovak Community Cultural Center was founded in 2004 as an institution of the Slovak Minority Council, according to their decision in 2003. The council established these institutions in order to represent Slovaks in every region in Hungary. The Slovak Community Cultural Center suits this classification, because it deals with one specialty, with the community culture, which means they represent a variety of activities, such as community life, development, self-expression and self-realization, culture, written and spoken language, as well as the archiving. Consequently, it takes part in financial, intellectual and human sections too. They focus on the local Slovak communities and on their activities, while holding them together in a symbolic union.
They created regional centres beside the Budapest based Slovak Minority Coincil Centre, because Slovaks live scatteredly in Hungary: on the Great Hungarian Plain in Békéscsaba, Tóthkomlós and Szarvas; in the Bakony region in Bakonycsernye; in the region of Nógrád and Heves in Vanyarc ( in Lucina since 2011), in Pilis in Pilisszentkereszt, in Zemplén in Sátoraljaújhely-Bánácska; near Budapest in Ecser (2008), in the region of Vértes-Gerencse in Tatabánya- Bánhida (2010) and along the Galga in Acsa (2011).
The Slovak Community Cultural Center organizes annually the “Day of Slovaks in Hungary” ’s cultural block.
Contact
Szlovák Közművelődési Központ
1114 Budapest, Fadrusz u. 11/A.
Telefon: +36-1/386 40 77
e-mail: soccss@slovaci.hu
Web: www.slovaci.hu
Igazgató: Zemenné Palecska Erika
Slovak people in Medgyesegyháza
Slovaks have lived in Medgyesegyháza since 1887, when 117 Slovak farmers from Békéscsaba bought lands in the border of the village. The dialectal appellation of the village refers to their origin from Békéscsaba: Maľá Csaba, meaning Small-Csaba.
After the settlement of Slovaks the village developed quickly, thus Medgyesegyháza became an independent large village in 1895, then a city in 2009.
Nowadays the Slovaks count as the largest and most active minority in the city.
The local government is the organizer of the community life in Medgyesegyháza, which among other things sustains the Slovak Traditionalist and Communal House, which operates as a multifunctional Slovak community area.
In the region of Békéscsaba the so-called “Slovak gastro commando” operates, its most attractive group is the group of women, who bake herôka (faworek). They regularly take part in the local, regional and national Slovak events.
Sister city/Twin town in Slovakia: Gúta
Contact:
Minority Council of Slovaks of Medgyesegyháza
5666 Medgyesegyháza, Kossuth tér 1.
Slovak people in Gerendás
Gerendás’s and Békéscsaba’s history are strongly connected. The village was populated in the 18th century, when the area functioned as Csaba’s commonage. A part of the village was Apponyi property, this family also supported the settling of Slovaks. Development of the village started in 1862. By this time the village had already had a Lutheran church and a school. The famous painter, Munkácsy Mihály spent a lot of time on his family’s property in Gerendás. The local rustic Slovak community inspired his art. The famous Slovak corn refiner Mokry Sámuel had a property on the border of Gerendás. The village became independent from Békéscsaba in 1924. After that, Gerendás developed quickly, and the first surfaced road was built.
Nowadays, apart from the local Slovak government a civil organization also supports the rights of Slovaks. The Society of Slovaks of Gerendás organize annually the popular Sausage Festival, Slovak native language camp and the grape harvest ball.
Sister cities/Twin towns in Slovakia: Diószeg and Kismácséd
Contact::
Gerendási Szlovák Önkormányzat Gerendási Szlovákok Egyesülete
5925 Gerendás, Kossuth u. 22-24. 5925 Gerendás, Kossuth u. 22-24.
E-mail: priskinnekati@gmail.com zahoranerka@gmail.com
Slovak people in Békés, Szabadkígyós and Sarkadkeresztúr
The presence of Slovaks in the three villages originates from Békéscsaba. From the developing border of Csaba a great number of Slovak people settled down to Békés and Szabadkígyós in the 19th century. The Slovak settlers contributed economically and culturally to the development of the villages.
Today there are Slovak Minority Councils in both villages. Their programmes vivify the local community life. Moreover, in Békés a Slovak association also operates, which keeps the contact actively with other Slovak associations in the region.
In Sarkadkeresztúr the settling happened scatteredly in the 20th century, also from Békéscsaba. During the election period in 2010-14 the Slovak Minority Conucil represented the local Slovaks.
Apart from these villages, Slovaks also live in Gyula and Orosháza, where, according to the census, their activity will increase in the near future.
Slovak people in Kondoros
The first highway inn of Kondoros was built in 1740 which still exist. This is the oldest one in the country.
They started to build the first houses around it.
300 years ago, the first Slovak settlers arrived there. They settled in Kondoros and the nearby boondocks.
They became beneficial and valuable members of the settlement. They brought their culture, languauge and customs.
These days, lot of people still feel the Slovak attachment.
Twin town in Slovakia: Nagysalló
Slovak people in Kardos
The Slovaks settled down in Kardos from Szarvas at the end of 18th century. They built farms where their plots of land they got ended.
Kardos became an independent settlement in 1969.
Kardos is located 18 kilometers out of Szarvas, next to the route number 44. The settlement is indicated by a sign with Slovakian inscription. The presence of Slovaks is indicated by Slovakian inscriptions in the Slovak Club.
Twin town: Nagydaróc (Velké Dravce)
Contact:
Szlovák Önkormányzat Kardos
5552 Kardos, Gyomai út 24.
Kardosi Szlovákok Baráti Köre
5552 Kardos, Árpád utca 14.
E-mail: fabrijudit@freemail.hu
Slovak cultural activity in the settlement
The Slovakian Minority Council of Kardos and The Circle of the Slovak friends with the local Minority Council represent the Slovakian cultural activity in a close cooperation.
The Slovak Club was founded in 1979. They organize cultural events and they aim to practice the Slovakian language and take care of Slovak culture by involving the youth. They keep the contact actively with other Slovak associations in the region and with groups form Slovakia also.
Slovak people in Csabacsűd
Csabacsűd is located 8 kilometers out of Szarvas along road 44 going towards Békéscsaba, 8 kilometers away from Szarvas.
The territory of the present-day settlement was already populated in the Archaeozoic according to the excavations from the 19th century. The settlement was mentioned in written form for the first time in 1456 as Chabachyde. In 1596, during the Turkish rule, Csabacsűd was totally destroyed. After its reconstruction, Csabacsűd became a part of Békésszentandrás.
Csabacsűd became an independent settlement in 1924.
After the Second World War, in 1946 and 1947 many families moved to the then Czechoslovkia.
The presence of Slovaks is indicated by signs with Slovakian inscriptions on the border of the settlement
Twin town in Slovakia: Csata
Slovak people in Örménykút
Örménykút is located 18 kilometers out of Szarvas and it became an independent settlement in 1952.
The inhabitants, who were mostly Slovaks, were taking care of the Slovak language and a culture for a long time. The folk song and traditionalist circle were founded in 1966. Even though this group doesn’t exist anymore, they still organize The Slovak Minority Day every year where the organizers present traditional meals and customs to the guests as a way of passing their memories and experiences to the younger generation.
Slovak people in Békéscsaba
Békéscsaba is the capital city of Slovak people in Hungary. It was the first settlement in 1718, and was revivified by the Slovak settlers from Gömör, Nógrád and Hont counties after the Turkish ravage. Békéscsaba is known as the „mother” of the Slovak settlements, because the spread of Slovaks started from here to almost every direction on the Great Hungarian Plain. Thanks to this, a few settlements was founded in Hungary at that time.
The city was the Slovak people’s cultural and trading centre on the Great Hungarian Plain.
The Evangelical Big Church was built in 1824 for the purpose of propagating the greatness and strength of the ’’Lutheran Rome”.
A lot of famous people lived on the border of the city, on the farmsteads, like the painter Munkácsy Mihály, the renowned agriculturist Stark Adolf and Mokry Sámuel, or the king of farmers in the 20th century, Áchim L. András.
The present-day Békéscsaba, which had the most Slovak residents a century ago, though with less Slovaks, yet insistently takes care of the intellectual and cultural heritage.
The first Slovak grammar school of the country still exists, and teaches the Slovak intelligentsia. In this city the most important scientific and research institute was founded in 1990, which is constatly discovering the history of our folk.
The local Slovak government and the city’s board of directors in strong cooperation represent the interests of Slovak people in Csaba, support the cultural initiatives and operate the Slovak Region House. The Embassy of the Slovak Republic was founded in 2001.
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In the city there is a vivid Slovak civil life. The Society of Slovaks in Békéscsaba, as the biggest and the most active Slovak civil organization in Hungary, achieve their tasks with the help of hundreds of people. In their seat, in the Slovak Cultural House, 12 groups actively deal with Slovak traditions. The Organization of Slovak Youngsters in Hungary is in Békéscsaba since 2005, which is the main association defending the rights of young Slovaks.
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Central contact:
Csabai Szlovákok Szervezete – Szlovák Kultúra Háza
5600 Békéscsaba, Kossuth tér 10.
e-mail: szlovakhaz@gmail.com
Tel./fax: 00 36 /66 441-750< Mobil: 00 36 30/74 23 421
The Slovaks from Șinteu Commune, Bihor County, Romania
According to the latest statistics, Şinteu commune has 1289 inhabitants. It is composed of the villages of Şinteu, Valea Târnei, Huta Voievozi and Socet. In the commune there is a town hall, a kindergarten and a general school (grades 1-8). The inhabitants’ religion is Roman Catholic and the church is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius. The main field of activity of the inhabitants is related to agriculture and animal husbandry.
Searching the history of the commune, we find that in the wooded areas of the hill in Bihor County, the first Slovak families arrived from Orava, Kysuce and Ghemer. In 1817, Count Banffy colonized with the Slovaks the settlements of Valea Târnei and Şinteu. In 1830 another group of Slovaks founded the localities of Huta Voievozi and Socet.
Initially this colonization with Slovaks had mainly economic causes. Some of them were also colonized as skilled labor for the newly established glass factories. The isolation of Slovak settlements in the Bihor area in houses far from each other was the main cause of maintaining the ethnic autonomy of Slovaks in this area.
In the sixties of the 20th century, as a result of the industrialization of cities, the migration of Slovaks to cities such as Oradea or Aleşd took place. Until the glass factories functioned, there was also the possibility of earning, but after they were abolished, the inhabitants started looking for jobs in their native country where they later moved with their families.
The most important events for Şinteu commune are The Day of the Romano-Catholic Church: Saints Cyril and Methodius (celebrated in July) and the Potato Festival (celebrated in October).
Şinteu commune is twinned with Appenzell from Switzerland, and Terchova, Lucky, Igram and Kralova pri Senci from Slovakia.
Currently, Șinteu remains the commune with the highest share of Slovaks in Romania (over 95% of the commune's inhabitants are Slovaks).
Contact data:
Phone : 0259-429-750; Fax: 0259-429-750; email: primaria.sinteu@cjbihor.com
website: https://www.primariasinteu.bihor.ro/
