St Elizabeth of Hungary Fall Festival
9016 Buckeye Rd. Cleveland
September 15, 2024
During the late 1800s, many Hungarians immigrated to and established themselves in Cleveland, Ohio. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church was built to serve their religious needs. At one time there were more Hungarians living in Cleveland than anywhere in the world outside of Budapest Hungary.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary was the earliest ethnic parish established for Hungarians in the United States, its present building was constructed in the early twentieth century, and it has been named a historic site. In 2023, it was declared a shrine church by Bishop Edward Malesic for the promotion of the Christian heritage of the Hungarian people. They held their annual Fall Festival and International Dance Recital following the bilingual Holy Mass at 11:30 AM on Sunday, September 15. The fall festival was held in Saint Elizabeth Hall and courtyard of the church and it was packed with people.
In the courtyard we saw Andrew Check (Cseh Andras) playing the cimbalom. A cimbalom is a music instrument composed of a large, trapezoidal box on legs with metal strings stretched across its top and a damping pedal underneath. It was designed and created by V. Josef Schunda in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. The cimbalom is typically played by striking two sticks, often with cotton-wound tips, against the strings which are on the top of the instrument. As you will hear, Andrew took up the instrument as a tribute to his late grandfather. In this video he plays a song and then explains the instrument to us and then plays some more.
Andrew Check (Cseh Andras) playing the cimbalom
There was also shopping and food in the courtyard.
Inside the hall there was a large stage and dance floor and more food! Four dance troops performed: Leneghan Irish Dance Group, Cleveland Jr. Tamburitzans, Donnaschwaben Kultergroup, and St. Elizabeth Dancers. There was also music by Polka Hall of Famer Al Battistelli with the Anthony Culkar Orchestra.
Here's a video of Al Battistelli with the Anthony Culkar Orchestra performing the Frankie Yankovic classic Just Because Polka.
Al Battistelli
Here are some more pictures from inside the hall.
Hungarian flag behind the stage
Mark Yonke served as MC
Hungarian dancers
Marcia Snavely and Greg Polyak
Walt Mahalovich and Mariana Somogyi
Lel Somogyi and Csaba Krasznai
St Elizabeth Hall Ballroom
The beautiful Church was open for visits.
The Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Museum was also available for touring. This is a quick video walk through of the Museum
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