Entering the exquisitely designed home of the Dióssi family, I see that the second candle on the Advent wreath has been lit, and the festive anticipation can be detected everywhere. The head of the family kindly invites you into the living room. The couple is preparing for Christmas with great excitement, since on December 24, Christmas Eve, sixteen people will be sitting around the festive table: 6 adult children, their partners, 2 grandchildren, parents and grandparents. I’m curious about how Mayor Csaba Dióssi and his wife Andrea celebrate Christmas.
– Christmas is a very important time in our lives, we think in terms of a big family – Csaba Dióssi starts the conversation – the family bond is strong, the big family is together regularly. I have four children, Andi has two, the children also have partners and my father also comes. So every weekend there is a joint family lunch for 8-14 people, a non-compulsory program, whoever is able to come. Four generations are sitting at the table at this time, and therefore I am very grateful to my fate, to my children.
For the mayor, the period before Christmas in the office is quite busy – we found out – but he cannot miss visiting all the institutions to wish his colleagues happy holidays. There are also Christmas “roles” in the family.
– Csaba hands over control in the kitchen to me – Andrea takes the floor – but he is active, because when a lot of us eat lunch together, we need help. Csaba cuts the meat, peels vegetables and potatoes, so I can absolutely count on him. Same at Christmas. The more masculine jobs fall to him: he buys the pine tree, sets it up, helps decorate the places I can’t reach.
When asked what the Christmas customs are like in Túrkev, where she comes from, Andrea said: family cohesion was strong there too. His grandmothers came to them on Christmas Eve, and the next day they went to all family members and greeted them on the occasion of the holiday. There were always big bakes and cookouts. They baked gingerbread together with the children when they were small, and I want to carry this tradition on. Here, in Dunakeszin, sixteen are standing around the Christmas tree, together singing the angel from Heaven.
– We have two sensational grandchildren, my first-born grandson is two years old, the younger one is four months old. The older one already speaks well, he understands what is going on around him. I think this will be the first Christmas for him that he can appreciate. He asks a lot of questions, it’s very interesting to see how his attachment to Christmas develops. I love the grandfather role, I feel very comfortable in it. Although my schedule is tight, I don’t want to miss out on their lives. I try to live up to my role. I’m also looking forward to the time when we can do sports and other leisure activities together.
In the home of the Dióssi family, Christmas symbols appear discreetly, making the environment more intimate. For children, Christmas lights are a real thrill.
Of course, what will be the Christmas menu at the Dióssi family cannot be left out of the conversation. In addition to the unmissable fish soup, there will be savory, mushroom, and cream pancake snacks, meatballs, and French salad. Children love dishes filled with prunes, so this is also prepared. The cakes are made by Andrea’s mother.
And what does Jesus bring to Csaba Dióssi?
– When it comes to giving gifts, I really like surprises, and I also want to cause surprises. I think that Jesus always finds a gift that he can be happy about. By the way, the greatest gift to Csaba is that we are all around him. This is very important to her, says Andrea, touching her husband’s hand.
Of course, when talking about the family’s Christmas preparations, we can’t leave out the city’s Christmas preparations either, since Csaba Dióssi can do as mayor to make the people of Dunakes feel good while waiting for Advent.
– Thank God, I meet many people at the events, and I asked many of them what they expect from us for Christmas. The answer is: mood. That’s why I formulated the plan for myself and my team to have a good, peaceful Christmas in Dunakeszin. I feel especially good during the Advent season – when the city is dressed up – especially now, when it is snowing. This also contributes to the good mood. It is a dense, full of programs, but a nice time for me. I see that most people experience the holiday in a similar way. Every year they invite me to the retirement club, they also celebrate Christmas very nicely, unfortunately many of them are alone. It has been a tradition in Dunakes for several years that our young people visit the elderly with a Christmas package. We have more than seven thousand roommates over the age of 65, and the young people reach out to everyone with a gift from the municipality. I am pleased that more than 600 young people applied this year, this is a fine example of caring. Now it is our responsibility to teach this to the next generation. We think in the long term, with the responsibility of generations.
At the end of our conversation, we also discussed who expects what from the new year, 2024.
Andrea’s wish: – I would like to wish our parents maximum health, they are not young anymore, but fortunately they are in good health, they are sporty, youthful, and they are absolutely on top mentally. I want it to be like this for a very long time. We also wish the children to find their way and be happy, because I think that’s the most important thing. Let the family be as close-knit in 2024 as it is now, because the “mosaic family” doesn’t always work well, but ours works perfectly well, we help each other.
– The most important thing is that the family stays together in the same way – wished Csaba Dióssi. – Now we don’t see that there is hope for the family to expand by 2024, but who knows? We always have big or small plans, we usually discuss them together, we help each other in whatever way we can so that these goals are realized. Most of all, I want us to stay together like this. We are very lucky because most of our children are already working, most of them locally. I wish our children, who are not yet in a relationship, to find their partner in 2024 and the path that makes them happy.
As mayor, I wish everyone to receive the love they need and desire from their family members and their environment during this period. You can live the holiday the way you want: in peace and love.
Imre Vetési
Photo: Krisztián Tóta
