Fairy Tale Magic Festival at the Rákóczi College

For the first time, the Pro Cultura Subcarpathica (PCS) and the Kalló Foundation from Hungary organized a Fairy Tale Magic Festival. The event took place on September 30, on the Day of Hungarian Folk Tales, at the Rákóczi College.

The festival began in the courtyard of the college, at the Fairy Tale Well, where storyteller Zsolt Pintér, president of the Csűrdöngölő Cultural Association, shared a story to kick off the day’s events. Following this, the opening continued in the Atrium, where Ildikó Orosz, president of the Rákóczi College and the PCS, welcomed the attendees.

“The story of the Fairy Tale Well originates from poet Sándor Kányádi, who believed that every institution offering preschool and teacher training should have a Fairy Tale Well. This well symbolizes a pure source, as stories should be learned and passed on only from a pure source”

– she explained.

Following the welcome speech, a Storyteller Meeting took place, where both children and adults showcased their skills. The participants were divided into seven groups, with the competition occurring simultaneously at multiple locations. In each room, three expert judges listened to and scored the children’s performances.

Simultaneously with the meeting, János Bukovics, a Knight of Hungarian Culture and a folk storyteller with Nagy Páva qualification, introduced the adult audience to the mysteries of oral storytelling. Following him, Margit Kész, an associate professor of the Philology Department’s Hungarian branch at the college, gave a professional presentation. Meanwhile, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a handicraft workshop and enjoy storytelling by the Csűrdöngölő Cultural Association.

In the afternoon, under the guidance of Gabriella Szilágyiné Tóth, a folk games teacher from the Tulipán Tanoda Hungarian School of Folk Music and Folk Art, there were children’s games, and those with a creative flair could participate in craft workshops.

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After this, the interactive performance of the Mesélő Bőrönd Társulat was presented. Following the performance, the results of the Storytelling Meeting were announced.

The podium winners of the Storytelling Meeting:

  1. category (8-year-olds)

I. Hanna Vascsák

II. Eszter Siti

III. Emil Németh

Special Award: Antal Neubauer

2. category (9-year-olds)

I. Maximilián Baranyi

II. Csenge Eszterhai

III. Péter Kossey

Special Award: Kevin Szűcs

3. category (10-year-olds)

I. Maxim Kulikovszki

II. Márk Tóth

III. Máté László

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4. category (11-year-olds)

I. Petra Bunda

II. Eszter-Flóra Borovszki

III. Alen Szegedi

5. category (12-year-olds)

I. Krisztián Koroly

II. Szintia Tadávcsics

III. Hajnalka Tóth

Special Awards: Mártin Csépes, Eszter Túri, Zsófia Urszta

6. category (13-14-year-olds)

I. Viktor Suszta

II. Karina Sankó

III. Nelli Gricila

7. category (15-18-year-olds)

I. Barbara Boglárka Pelsőci

II. Anasztázia Taraczközi

III. Ákos Kovács

After the awards ceremony, the Csűrdöngölő Cultural Association took the stage once again, followed by the Maltese Charity Service’s play bus, which entertained the children, while the most creative participants engaged in craft activities.

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The day concluded with a heartwarming concert by the Alma Együttes from Hungary.

Anita Kurmay

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