– What does August 20 mean? It represents the charismatic figure of Saint Stephen. It means that singing the National Anthem brings tears to our eyes. It means that we speak the most difficult, most complicated, yet most beautiful language in the world. What else does August 20 mean? It also means the most important food for us, the holiday of new bread, with which we express our respect, love and gratitude for our daily bread – continued the mayor of Pusztávám, who emphasized that we should be proud of our ancestors, famous people, scientists and athletes. The world knows us Hungarians as a strong, talented nation, and we are.
The holiday connects us across borders from here and beyond. Pusztávám is celebrating, the crowning cities and the sites of the former parliament are celebrating, our sister towns Geretsried and Nickelsdorf are celebrating, Transylvania is celebrating, the whole of Hungary is celebrating and everywhere in the world where Hungarians live is celebrating. The holiday is a link that connects us, no matter where we live in the world – Mihály Csordás concluded his speech.
After that, the mayor and Bernadett Szili, acting head of the cultural center, presented awards.
János Finta, who was born in Gánt in 1951, received an award for public education. Brought up in a loving family circle, Aunt Zsóka’s father was a forester and her mother a teacher. After graduating from Miklós Radnót Primary School in Mór and then graduating from high school in 1969, he himself chose the teaching career. In 1973, he obtained a teacher’s degree in mathematics and physics from the Pécs Teacher Training College. As a fresh graduate, he started teaching in Pusztava starting in the 1973/74 academic year. Even as a beginning teacher, János Finta was recognized by the parents and the residents of the village as an active community person who always put the children first, ready to take action. In addition to her duties as a mother, she was the real driving force behind the school in Pusztavam. In addition to considering teaching as his lifelong vocation, he also showed great empathy towards socially needy families and children.
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Margit Csósza, born Gáspárné Kasznár, received a public education award for her work as a kindergarten teacher. Possessing a great deal of professional knowledge, with new opportunities and a huge sense of responsibility, the awardee took on the leadership of the Pusztavam kindergarten’s employee community. With a fresh diploma in hand, as the years have proven, he did everything to meet the expectations of Pusztávám Kösség’s kindergarten as soon as possible. He strove to ensure that the kindergarten meets the challenges and expectations of the time at the highest possible level.
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Pusztávám Village’s representative body awarded a posthumous “Pusztávám Public Life” award to János Pratsler and Aunt Kati.
(The award was accepted by his daughters, Aniko Freyné Pratsler and Regina Pratsler. – ed.)
János Pratsler (Katalin Wittmann) was born on July 29, 1937 in Pusztavam. As a young man, he worked at the TSZ in Pusztavam, and then in 1966 he began his service as a bell ringer at the Catholic parish. In addition to ringing the bell, he helped his predecessor with the sacristan duties for 6 years, and then in 1972 he became the sacristan of the Parish Church of St. Anthony of Padua. Serving alongside 13 priests, he performed sacristan duties for approximately 50 years.
In the last years – with his strength waning – with help, but he finally completed his work until June 30, 2022.
In recognition of her half a century of service to the local Catholic community, Aunt Kati was able to receive the Apostolic Blessing of Pope Francis from Székesfehérvár County Bishop Antal Spányi at the church farewell in 2022.
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Józsefné Annuska Czetli was nominated by the representative body of the Pusztavám Municipality for the honorary title of German Nationality. Annuska was born in Pusztávám, she always considered it important to nurture and preserve the ethnic culture of Pusztávám.
He pays special attention to village day events. For years, he has offered hundreds of kircedli for the Kircedli Festival.
He maintains a very good relationship with the Pusztavám Choir. His daughter and granddaughter are members of the choir.
She prepares for every event, with a delicious cake, and helps with cooking if necessary, be it the village day, harvest parade, Advent days, family day, choir meeting.
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Attila Stettner received an award for his activities to keep German culture and traditions alive. The laureate was born on August 17, 1965, as the second child of a Swabian family in Pusztavam. At home, he was raised to be aware of his German identity. They paid a lot of attention to the respect of traditions in their education, to teach their children the traditions they inherited from the older generations, their parents. Education to love and respect traditions was further strengthened by the teachers in Pusztavam.
The special respect for traditions achieved its goal very quickly, as Attila became a member of the Pusztávám German National Dance Group at the very young age of 15, of which he is still a member. In the municipal election of 2002, as a representative in the municipality of the settlement, he received the trust of the population of Pusztávám, due to his selfless willingness to act.
In 2006, he became a founding member of the Fejér County German National Self-Government.
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The representative body awards Frey Szabolcs, the former artistic director of the local dance group, the Pusztávám Község German Nationality Award.
The dance group, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foundation, could already boast of outstanding success when it took over the dance education from the previous leader, Aunt Klári Friedmann Józsefné. As a respecter of tradition, Szabolcs kept the old local dances in the group’s repertoire, he also taught them from the dances of famous choreographers, but the dancers were very proud that he also created his own choreographies for the group.
Its goal has always been to preserve, present and pass on the old, local national traditions, and preserve Pusztavám’s national image. This is proven by the fact that dance, music, and the Swabian language were also passed down in his family, with which the generations can pass on local traditions, preserving Pusztavám’s reputation as a nation, in which nurturing German culture in Hungary becomes natural.
In addition to his occupation as a winegrower, he also actively participated in the public life of the village as a representative.
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Pusztávám Község awarded Gergely Finta the first association president of the local Dance Group with an award for German Nationality in recognition of his work in preserving and continuing the traditions of German nationality.
For Gergely, getting to know and nurture German traditions began early: he first became a member of the local children’s dance group, then of the established Youth Brass Band, and gradually became involved in various school programs nurturing traditions.
His further education was also determined by his German identity. He continued his studies at the German National High School in Budapest, where he actively participated in the preservation of the traditions of the Germans in Hungary – by presenting and exhibiting Pusztávám national objects, customs, and local folk costumes.
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Márton Pisch received an award for Pusztavám Kösség Public Order.
Columnist member of the Civil Guard Association. We have seen and known him as a policeman for many, many years. If his work schedule allows, he tries to participate in civil guard activities by taking an active role in as many events and programs as possible.
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The representative body of Pusztávám Municipality awarded a certificate of appreciation to Viktória Varga, artistic director of the Pusztávám German Nationality Dance Group, and Ármin Katona, conductor of the Pusztávám Community German Nationality Brass Band, for their enthusiastic and selfless work.
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We heartily congratulate all the awardees!
