This Hungarian pavilion gets the show started right away, but before that, you will definitely feel welcomed right at the door.
Hungary-Pannonia Pavilion
Venue: Burton Cummings Community Centre (960 Arlington St)
Dates: Sun. Aug. 13th to Sat. Aug. 19th
** For a complete, updated listing of pavilions I have visited so far, please click here.
Cultural Display
A huge map of Hungary welcomes you to the cultural display with major cities set up so you can appreciate the topography and size of the country. Boards of information guide you through the rest of the display while teaching about Hungary’s history, notable contributions, art, industries, along with facts about a Hungarian breed of horse and dog!
Food
I had the absolute joy of trying the dobos torte or 7-layer cake. The sponge cake was layered with a light chocolate buttercream. A decadent layer of caramel also adds a crunch to the fluffiness of the rest of the cake. I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet, and you got a mix of the textures with each bite.
Entertainment
The MC walked us through the performances we were seeing. The “forgotten Hungarians” inspired the opening dance number. These Hungarians stayed in Romania after borders were changed – and still practice their Hungarian religions, culture and traditions where they are. What was notable at this pavilion was the fact that it was a small, tight-knit group. There was an audience participation piece with balancing a bottle on your head – not as easy as they make it look! I also learned that the bottle dance was once used to attract a husband. Now wouldn’t that be quite the story to tell your future kids? 🙂 The principle dancers sang and danced in unison and you could hear this distinctly in their claps and footwork.
Above and Beyond
Their adult ambassadors readily received guests and ensured that you felt like you were coming into their own home. They checked up on me throughout my visit and they even insisted I tried that dessert! Thank you again!
Many thanks to the volunteers, organizers and performers for having me at the Hungary-Pannonia Pavilion!
** For a complete, updated listing of pavilions I have visited so far, please click here.
xoxo,
Judianne