Francis Berger's Blog, page 138
January 4, 2020
Animated Hungarian Folk Tales - Angel Lambs
When I visited my grandparents in Hungary as a child, I was fortunate enough to have caught a few episodes of the animated series Hungarian Folktales (Magyar Népmesék).
The six-to-ten minute animated stories are all based on authentic Hungarian folktales, and the animation itself pays special attention to various folktale motifs. Ranging from charming and light, to downright dark and somewhat adult-themed in nature, the folktales area a delight to watch.
Though I only saw a few of them when I was a child, I have watched nearly all of them online as an adult. I recently discovered a channel on YouTube featuring the animated Hungarian Folktales in English. Well worth exploring if you have a penchant for good and, occasionally, quirky stories. These enchanting and enjoyable cartoons also provide some valuable insights into Hungarian culture and consciousness.
One of my personal favorites - The Angel Lambs - can be viewed here. Enjoy
The six-to-ten minute animated stories are all based on authentic Hungarian folktales, and the animation itself pays special attention to various folktale motifs. Ranging from charming and light, to downright dark and somewhat adult-themed in nature, the folktales area a delight to watch.
Though I only saw a few of them when I was a child, I have watched nearly all of them online as an adult. I recently discovered a channel on YouTube featuring the animated Hungarian Folktales in English. Well worth exploring if you have a penchant for good and, occasionally, quirky stories. These enchanting and enjoyable cartoons also provide some valuable insights into Hungarian culture and consciousness.
One of my personal favorites - The Angel Lambs - can be viewed here. Enjoy
January 3, 2020
Revisions Are Done
Well, it took a couple of weeks longer than I expected it would, but I have completed the revisions to my novel The City of Earthly Desire. The revisions were partly inspired by some feedback I received from readers in the past couple of years, and partly by my own dissatisfaction with the way I had written a few of the characters. I am pleased with this revised version. I hope future readers will feel the same way.
Whatever the case, I had a good time during the revision process. It was a bit frustrating at the beginning, but after a week or two I really began to enjoy the work. I had the chance to revisit some old haunts and spend some quality time with some old friends. It was also quite rewarding to be immersed in something creative for an extended period of time. If nothing else, the experience reminded me of the importance of cultivating and maintaining a rich inner life.
I plan to republish the novel some time in the next week. Details will follow shortly.
Whatever the case, I had a good time during the revision process. It was a bit frustrating at the beginning, but after a week or two I really began to enjoy the work. I had the chance to revisit some old haunts and spend some quality time with some old friends. It was also quite rewarding to be immersed in something creative for an extended period of time. If nothing else, the experience reminded me of the importance of cultivating and maintaining a rich inner life.
I plan to republish the novel some time in the next week. Details will follow shortly.
January 2, 2020
The Original White Stag Emblem
The white stag is the central symbol in my novel The City of Earthly Desire, and appears in the emblem of my fictitious village of Ószabad in the narrative. There is, however, a real village in southern Hungary that features the white stag on its emblem - this village is Óbanya, which I visited for the first time this past Christmas. 
Obánya's village emblem served as the model for my own fictitious rendering of Ószabad's emblem. In my novel, the communists eventually change Ószabad's emblem, replacing the white stag with a red star. I described the alteration in the following manner in the book:
Reinhardt was five when the communists changed the village’s emblem. For nearly two centuries the emblem had been a crest depicting a white stag standing between two green hills below a dark blue sky punctured by the sun on the right and the moon on the left. A few local party members and some AVO men from Pécs unveiled Ószabad’s new, updated village emblem during a small official ceremony all the villagers were forced to attend. The green hills, dark sky, sun, and moon remained the same, but the white stag had been replaced by a massive red star. The party members burst into applause. Having no real choice in the matter, the villagers joined in.
Seeing the emblem firsthand was a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to catch a glimpse of any real white stags around the village, but I did see a few of the more common light brown variety.
Obánya's village emblem served as the model for my own fictitious rendering of Ószabad's emblem. In my novel, the communists eventually change Ószabad's emblem, replacing the white stag with a red star. I described the alteration in the following manner in the book: Reinhardt was five when the communists changed the village’s emblem. For nearly two centuries the emblem had been a crest depicting a white stag standing between two green hills below a dark blue sky punctured by the sun on the right and the moon on the left. A few local party members and some AVO men from Pécs unveiled Ószabad’s new, updated village emblem during a small official ceremony all the villagers were forced to attend. The green hills, dark sky, sun, and moon remained the same, but the white stag had been replaced by a massive red star. The party members burst into applause. Having no real choice in the matter, the villagers joined in.
Seeing the emblem firsthand was a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to catch a glimpse of any real white stags around the village, but I did see a few of the more common light brown variety.
January 1, 2020
Sublime Craftsmanship
My family and I visited southern Hungary this Christmas and spent a day in the city of Pécs (pronounced Paytch). The image above shows the main entrance to the Pécs Cathedral. The iron gates of the main entrance are crafted to resemble grapevines, with the Holy Spirit - represented here by a dove - perched at the top. The craftsmanship here is among the best I have encountered in the field of ironwork. Truly a sight to behold. 
December 30, 2019
Another Day or Two
I had planned to resume regular blogging today, but I need another day or two to focus my thoughts. I'll resume blogging again by January 1 at the very latest.
December 23, 2019
Brief Blogging Break For Christmas
I am taking a short respite from blogging to celebrate Christmas and meditate on the significance and meaning of this most important of days. I am also planning to spend some much needed time with my family. I will return to daily blogging on the 29th or the 30th.
Until then, I wish everyone a Happy Christmas.
Until then, I wish everyone a Happy Christmas.
December 22, 2019
Working Through the Darkness
It was the darkest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere today. The winter solstice. A day marked by the domination of darkness over light. As I thought about it this morning, it occurred to me that we are living in the age of the winter solstice – an age in which darkness dominates light; encroaches upon; seeks to eradicate it. Those who seek light must inevitably work through the darkness to reach it. It has always been that way, but perhaps it is more that way now than it has been in the past.
That Christmas and the winter solstice coincide over a short span of days is common knowledge, but few recognize the mystery contained in the obvious. I don’t have the key to the mystery myself, but I can sense the significance in the light being born during the darkest of days when gloom and bleakness oppresses everything, including hope. On the one hand, the winter solstice signifies peak darkness. On the other hand, it marks the point after which dark tide ebbs and the light once again begins to flow.
And we are all working through the darkness in some way or other. Some appear perfectly content to remain in the murky gloom; to turn their backs on the light and burrow deeper into the shadows, ever farther from the light. Others are led astray by fireworks and false beacons. The fireworks dazzle and mesmerize, but essentially keep people rooted in the dark through illusion. Darkness descends quickly and firmly and remains once the brilliant displays end. The false beacons offer faux salvation but essentially lure onto rocky shores – the shipwrecks of souls.
And yet there are some who recognize the light and are drawn to it. Some are very close to the light; others, like me, are still mired in darkness. We battle through the somber blackness, determined to close the distance between ourselves and the promise the light offers. The winter solstice bespeaks promise and hope. This inspires faith. This faith fortifies us as we continue to work through the darkness. Yes, the light may appear brief and distant, but it is there. The light is always there; and one day we will be there with it, always.
That Christmas and the winter solstice coincide over a short span of days is common knowledge, but few recognize the mystery contained in the obvious. I don’t have the key to the mystery myself, but I can sense the significance in the light being born during the darkest of days when gloom and bleakness oppresses everything, including hope. On the one hand, the winter solstice signifies peak darkness. On the other hand, it marks the point after which dark tide ebbs and the light once again begins to flow.
And we are all working through the darkness in some way or other. Some appear perfectly content to remain in the murky gloom; to turn their backs on the light and burrow deeper into the shadows, ever farther from the light. Others are led astray by fireworks and false beacons. The fireworks dazzle and mesmerize, but essentially keep people rooted in the dark through illusion. Darkness descends quickly and firmly and remains once the brilliant displays end. The false beacons offer faux salvation but essentially lure onto rocky shores – the shipwrecks of souls.
And yet there are some who recognize the light and are drawn to it. Some are very close to the light; others, like me, are still mired in darkness. We battle through the somber blackness, determined to close the distance between ourselves and the promise the light offers. The winter solstice bespeaks promise and hope. This inspires faith. This faith fortifies us as we continue to work through the darkness. Yes, the light may appear brief and distant, but it is there. The light is always there; and one day we will be there with it, always.
December 20, 2019
My Favorite Christmas Carol?
When it comes to Christmas carols and songs, I have no clear favorite, but I have always cherished "Good Bless You Merry, Gentlemen" particularly for its first stanza which, in my opinion, sums up the whole point of celebrating Christmas quite profoundly and succinctly.
God rest you merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
God rest you merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
December 19, 2019
A Beautiful Medieval Hungarian Christmas Song
I finally managed to find one of the songs my son found so moving during the choral performance we attended in our village church last weekend. This is beautiful chant, in my opinion. Hope you enjoy it.
