Recently the Hungarian Academy of Sciences issued the statement: The dominant historical, archaeological, ethnographic and linguistic standpoints consider the Szeklers to be an integral part of the modern Hungarian nation in ethno-cultural terms.
This is the latest in an ongoing debate about the Szeklers (Székelyek in Hungarian).
In February 2013 demonstrators appeared in front of the Hungarian Consulate in the Romanian city of Cluj (Kolozsvár in Hungarian). They carried a sign which read „Szeklers are not Hungarians.”
Szeklers are not Hungarians.
According to the Orbán Government there are 1.2-million citizens identified as “Hungarians” in Romania and about half of them are ethnically Szekler. Szeklers live far from the Hungarian border in the middle of Romania, an area called Szeklerland covering three Romanian counties (Mureş, Harghita and Covasna).
Map of Szeklerland.
Szeklers speak Hungarian, although today most of them are bi-lingual, and they maintain a strong and distinct community identity. Some say that Szeklers and Hungarians are separate nations, similar to the Germans and Austrians who have common German roots and language, yet are separate nations. Others state that Szeklers are “Hungarians” and no further discussion is needed.
Freedom to Szeklerland.
During the Communist era, between 1952 and 1968, there was an autonomous region in Romania at the area of Szeklerland called Magyar Autonomous Region, with Târgu-Mureș (Marosvásárhely) as capital.
Szeklerland is not Romania.
A new wrinkle in the Szekler debate is that Mr. Mihály András, of the Szeklers’ World Alliance (Székelyek Világszövetsége) has initiated a petition to declare that Szeklers who live within the borders of Hungary constitute an independent ethnic group. These are Szeklers who migrated to Hungary from Szeklerland and now demand minority status in Hungary. The petition was rejected.
Mihály András, of the Szeklers’ World Alliance.
According to Hungary’s National Election Committee there are currently thirteen ethnic groups that meet the legal criteria. The Szeklers do not satisfy all requirements including, residing in the current territory of Hungary for at least 100 years, and having their own language.
To complicate the issue there is another tiny Hungarian speaking ethnic group in Romania, the Csangos. Without the Szeklers and the Csangos, the Hungarian minority would be only 600,000, far from the 1.2 million number.
Hungary’s policy is based on the idea that the nation is a 15-million strong “world nation.” Ten-million within the borders, 2.5-million outside Hungary within the Carpathian basin. Another 2.5 million is the Diaspora, e.g. in North America. People with Hungarian heritage in the Carpathian basin and the Diaspora are called “Hungarians” and they are part of the “Hungarian nation body.”
I have reservations about the “world nation” concept and question the validity of these numbers. The total number of Hungarians both in the Carpathian basin and in the Diaspora is significantly lower. The Hungarian world nation is probably about 12-million strong.
Obviously the Szeklers and Csangos in Romania should decide for themselves whether they want to be identified as Hungarians and be included in the “Hungarian nation body.” The Academy in Budapest shouldn’t issue ill-timed proclamations on this touchy and very political issue.
Szeklerland does not exist
As a Hungarian American I am a bit annoyed that the Orbán government calls us “Hungarians.” In North America we are Canadians and Americans, proud of our Hungarian roots and heritage, and few of us endorse Hungary’s current “nation policy.” It would be more appropriate to call us Americans and Canadians of Hungarian origin.
György Lázár
@ György Lázár
I am amused by that Christopher Adam allows you to continuously smear the Nation he is so proud of belonging to in spite of being a real Canadian borne man with a Hungarian heart beating in his chest. Rather than protecting you from me an alike by moderating or deleting our comments about your anti-Hungarian garbage, he should show you the red card and send you to the HS to strengthen Eva’s hate for our Homeland. That is your level not the HFP.
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“I have reservations about the “world nation” concept and question the validity of these numbers.”
Not to worry nobody counts you in as a Hungarian! And neither should you mangle in Hungarian affairs as you are (as declared herein) not one of us.
“It would be more appropriate to call us Americans and Canadians of Hungarian origin.”
For once I agree with you. You are a typical American who wants to tell other nations how to run their internal affairs from outside with no association other than enjoying the benefit of spending as much time you can and waste as little money as possible to enjoy what the Hungarian Nation (which you just proclaimed are not a member of) provide you during your stay in the so much criticized country of your (unfortunate) origin.
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OT. To improve your transportation expertise about Budapest.
The ticket from Deák tér to Liszt Ferenc Airport (or vice versa) by the direct bus 100E is 900 HUF. The ride is 40-42 minutes with one stop at Kálvin tér. Today an American showed up with a regular single ticket that is invalid on the direct line and demanded the ticket handler to let him board because he just bought it from the ticket automat and it did not hit his hand for pushing the wrong button. I interfered and told him not to be a smart ass. He wasn’t too appreciative but bought a ticket and got to LFA for $3.24. Wow this is how expensive the public transportation in Budapest. I guess for such huge amount you could get a cab ride to LA airport couldn’t you?
Pity, that Hungarians cannot call themselves God’s chosen people (that right, I understand, belongs exclusively to the sons and daughters of Abraham, and they aren’t into sharing their hard won distinction.) The title of Gypsy Kings is also taken by a handful of Spanish guitar players. (Besides, most Hungarians, including the Hungarian PM, do not consider the gypsies that live on their territory as Hungarians. As Orbán said a couple of years ago, they are migrants, but we’re stuck with’em now.) There is, of course, the old fall back – Hungary is the prettiest flower on God’s hat, we’re all related to Gog and Magog, end of discussion. Let’s be frank. Even Jimminy Cricket is a Hungarian. Mr. Lázár is right: counting Hungarians (and there are only a few of those), is a numbers game.
For your info, seklers already decided overwhelmingly that they are Magyar, every census they participated in. Also, who elected you to speak for Hungarians in North America?
I remember them being called szasz- ok ?
Germanic background for sure – in Romania…
Different group, you are really confused. There were indeed ethnic Germans in Transylvania, mostly in Brasov, sibiu, timis and caras severing counties. Nothing to do with the szekely Magyar group.
You talkin’ to me Joe ? Why ? Why don’t you talk to Robitusin instead, and ask him to cough. That will calm him down. 🙂
Excellent piece Mr. Lázár, as always.
Don’t pay much attention to Morrison. He can’t tell the difference between joking and choking. “The Nation” will survive him.