Family Day
In December, our community houses, dressed in festive attire, welcome their beneficiaries and family members to an end-of-year Advent family day. Here, we reflect on the past year, relive many shared memories, enjoy performances by the children for their parents, share delicious homemade cookies, engage in craft workshops for children and parents alike, and conclude the day with gift-giving.
Szeged: In the Szeged community house, groups 1 and 3 held their Advent celebrations on the 16th, while group 2 held theirs on the 17th. Preparation began days in advance. The children cleaned the yard and decorated our knight’s hall in beautiful, festive attire while others baked delicious gingerbread in the kitchen.
The celebration for the Szeged group 1 had a nostalgic atmosphere as more than half of the group members had completed their studies, making this their last joint family day. Everyone shared their current work or study situation, and we reminisced about old memories. After viewing the digital yearbook, we enjoyed a festive lunch together. The craft corner, where we decorated candles and picture frames, was also very popular.
For the Szeged group 2, as in previous years, we remembered the most joyful and memorable moments of 2023 with a photo compilation – experiences from camps, research projects, and time spent together. The highlight of our celebration was the screening of the video yearbook, which was warmly received by both young and old. We would like to thank the Foundation for the Christmas packages and the immense support we received throughout the year.
The Szeged group 3 and their families were welcomed by a charmingly decorated craft table, where they could make Christmas-themed candle holders. The beautifully decorated tables were laden with delicious cookies, some made by the children in the days leading up to the event, complemented by the wonderful flavors the parents brought to the table. Viewing the short film brought back beautiful memories, as did browsing through the well-executed yearbooks. The evening was enriched with a mystery-solving activity. We heard an Agatha Christie Advent novella narrated by Patyi Izabella, who added to the storytelling with puzzle solutions. We stayed together for a long time, nostalgically reflecting on the year’s events.
Kaposvár: It’s incredible, but another year full of experiences, adventures, and challenges has passed. At the family Christmas celebration, we gathered to review what happened to us over the past year. 2023 was a busy year for the Kaposvár group 1, as the children participated in the Életút Day for the first time and completed their first school year under the Foundation’s aegis.
Watching the Digital Yearbook film, we recalled the events of the past year, watching with smiles and sometimes a bit of emotion. Enikő Nagy prepared a surprise performance with Christmas songs, bringing festive atmosphere to the evening.
We started the gathering with a toast, drinking kid champagne, then started crafting, decorating bags, making Christmas ornaments, and weaving bracelets. Both parents and children eagerly immersed themselves in the crafting activities. The yearbook was a great success; the youngsters excitedly flipped through the publication, searching for the photos they appeared in and getting to know the past year’s events more closely.
The Kaposvár group 2 held its family Christmas day on Sunday, December 17th.
Members of the group, both young and old, gathered to celebrate Christmas together. Upon arrival, a surprise performance awaited the group members and their families, with our mentor Sasa and Sípos Levente creating an intimate Advent atmosphere for us. Our mentor brought us a lovely text for the holidays, while Levente sang a beautiful song and played the piano. The group was excited that Miklós bácsi could join us that day, which we were very happy about as he hadn’t been able to be with us for a long time. We continued our tradition of slicing apples and sharing a slice with everyone, symbolizing our belonging to one community. After the short program, various activities took place: the cookie club members and some eager helpers made gingerbread and cookies, the creatively inclined could create table decorations in the craft workshop, while others spent time playing board games and table football. In the evening, several of us went down together to light candles, making this day even more memorable. It was uplifting to be together again, for both the university students and the younger ones, and it was nice to spend a peaceful day preparing for the Christmas spirit. Our joyful afternoon’s photos can be viewed in the gallery.
On the morning of December 16th, the Kaposvár group 3 held an unconventional Christmas celebration. The mentor, Barnabás Szövényi, invited both parents and university students for a joint nostalgia, accompanied by Christmas music, lots of sweet and savory pastries, and tea. On this festive occasion, the mentor bid farewell to his group, as someone else will take his place next year. We revived the funniest
Pécs:
On the third Saturday of Advent (16 December) the Family Day of the Pécs groups took place in the Community House. On the 16th of September, the house was filled to capacity as children, parents and mentors prepared for Christmas together. A table full of fruit and sweets awaited children and adults.
Group members treated their peers and families to a festive show. The performances were diverse, just like us. There were musical performances, recitations and prose. We were treated to a quality show. After the performances, we looked together at the 2023 Moving Yearbook, which brought smiles and joy to all our faces.
After the show, we welcomed our beneficiaries and their families for interactive activities.
Crafts, gingerbread baking and decorating, a literature workshop and a quiz awaited the enthusiastic participants.
A 2024 desk calendar was raffled off to those who successfully completed the workshops.
After the joint activities, the gift bags and the Yearbook were handed over.
The parents expressed their gratitude to the Csányi Foundation Board of Trustees for the food donations, which greatly facilitates the families’ preparations before the holidays. Thank you to our students and volunteers for helping us to run the Family Day. We had a fantastic day together getting in the holiday spirit. We wish you all a Happy Holidays! Mentors Andrea Bálint-Orsós, Luca Borsy, András Gál
Nagybajom:
On 15 December 2023, at 17:00, we held our Advent Family Day. In addition to the children, parents, our students and our volunteer Ádám Balogh attended the meeting. First of all, we handed over the parcels donated by the Bonafarm Group, accompanied by Christmas wishes.
After that, our evening programme began. We worked on the play by Lev Tolstoy: Father Panov, with the help of our drama teacher Csaba Varga. The parents listened to their children in a relaxed atmosphere. The impact of the play was enhanced by the set, sound and light elements.
After the show – while the parents watched two short films – our group gave each other presents. One of the films showed the last six months of the Nagybajom 3 group, while the other gave an insight into the work of our Foundation. At the end of the evening, we said goodbye and took home a festive message from Father Panov.
The next day, our Community House was also filled with families from the Nagybajom 1 and 2 groups. The young people came with their parents and siblings. The day began at 10 am with a welcome and Advent programme. Then, led by Milan Vajda, the guests took part in a game show. Among the tasks were a puzzle to solve, an Advent word game to solve, a Christmas quiz to solve with the help of the Kahoot programme, and last but not least, after the gingerbread decorating, each group had to dress up one of their group members as a Christmas tree. The atmosphere was cheerful and joyful during the whole competition. The families were offered tea and beigli by the volunteer helpers, along with informal conversation. Families had the opportunity to have a Christmas picture made and take it home printed on photo paper. At the end of the day, they could receive a food parcel donated by the Bonafarm group, a food voucher from the Foundation and the Yearbook, which has become a tradition over the years and which presents the Foundation’s events. Thank you very much! We wish you all a blessed and peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
“We had a great time spending these few hours together with our families and friends. People could relax here, spend a happy day and not think about everyday difficulties. A big applause and thanks for the organisation. Merry Christmas!” – Völfinger family
“Thank you again for allowing us to spend the morning together in such a loving environment. We were able to participate in fun activities and had a great time. We will play with the Kahoot program at home, we really liked it! Thank you to the Foundation for your Christmas gift this year!” – Vajda family
Advent Family Day in Nagybajom – Gallery
Mohács:
The Family Days in Mohács started with Group 3. Already in the afternoon the festive preparations began, the members of the group gathered after school in the Community House and worked hard. Some prepared the cheese platter, others the sandwiches and cakes, some set the table, while others put together the music selection, and by the time the parents and family members arrived, a festive atmosphere was waiting for them.
“This year-end party was a bit unusual, with a tight, family atmosphere. Unfortunately, some of us were unable to attend due to illness, and one of our partners was travelling to Győr for a study competition. It was the last time we celebrated in such an intimate atmosphere. Next year we will have many more of us, as our group will grow by fifteen youngsters after the Spring Selection. We thought about being role models for the big ones and the little ones. Next year, we will definitely have a surprise for the little ones for the Advent Family Day.” Adrienn Szabó, Group 3, Mohács
“The highlight of the event was definitely the Digital Yearbook preview, we were all just amazed and staring at what super activities our children could experience. After the film, the pictures and short videos of the year’s events were shown, which were also a great success. Afterwards, we had a candle-lighting ceremony to add to the atmosphere, to take stock of the past year and to reflect on the past. Then came a tasty snack with funny stories. As the event drew to a close, we received a huge Christmas package from the Foundation and the Yearbook. Thank you very much! ” Bertholdné S. Nagy Ágnes parent
“We really enjoyed our end-of-year short film and it gave our family members a glimpse of some of our significant events.” Benczenleitner Erika, Group 3, Mohács
Jászberény:
“On Wednesday after school everyone rushed to the Community House for our Advent Family Day. I spent most of my time doing crafts. I made paper angels and helped my mother to felt Christmas decorations. Some of the boys made angels too, but they were more into foosball. Many little brothers and mums made something nice too. In the teahouse, the cakes and hot tea went very quickly. It was a place for parents to talk.” Henrietta Németh Jászság Group 1
“We held the party for all four groups at the same time in the Phoenix Nest Workshop House. The families filled the hall, many came to see our Advent show. Tamás Burai introduced the productions, which were directed by Alexandra Hégete. There were performers from all groups. Dance, poetry, singing and instrumental performances were presented to the audience. Uncle Miklós also celebrated with us. The short film was a big surprise, it was fun to watch it with the parents. After the ceremony, all the families received their vouchers for the Yearbook, which we looked at with excitement. “Oláh Anna Jászság Group 4
Thank you very much to the Bonafarm Group for the Christmas food parcels!
Gallery Jászberény
Szentes:
“On Friday afternoon, 15 December, families gathered in the Community House to spend the most special day of the year together, even though every day is special for us. Our Advent family day was a chance for everyone to make one or more needlepoint pictures to decorate the home or to give away as gifts, and a lot of hidden talents were revealed among the family members! In the spirit of the year-long rush, stress and fatigue, the tea room was set up to get in the mood for the holidays, where we could enjoy body-warming sips of special varieties of the delicious drink, while listening to each other’s soul-warming reflections – whether in the form of literary creations or recollections of personal stories. Not only the parents and big brothers, but also the younger ones were eager to join in the activities or play one of the house board games. Meanwhile, everyone was able to enjoy a variety of Christmas cakes and cookies, which were provided in abundance by the mothers with their hands full. The evening continued with a delicious roast dinner to mark the special occasion, and after everyone had had their fill, we watched the Foundation’s surprise short film about the year 2023 together. We were thrilled to see where we caught a glimpse of a Sentencer in it and we were all proud of the children featured. Meanwhile, the Bonafarmos Christmas presents were being delivered to the next room, so everyone was happy to receive their parcels after the film. After saying goodbye to each other and to the new year, we went home tired but happy. We thank you for this year and wish you all a Merry Christmas!”-Children and parents of Group 1 and 2 of the Centenary Community Centre
More photos in the gallery