Join us in celebrating Hungarian Folk Song and Folk Poetry Week, commemorating the rich and diverse spiritual heritage of Hungarian folk traditions, which spans generations and is of immeasurable value.
As an integral part of Hungarian folk traditions, the heritage of Hungarian folk music has deep roots that continue to play an important role in our community spirit today. Zoltán Kallós (1926–2018), a Transylvanian Hungarian ethnographer and folk music collector was the single most important collector of folk music in the Hungarian language area. He received the title Artist of the Nation and was twice honoured with the Kossuth Prize for his invaluable work. Over decades of dedication, Kallós collected music and customs in the regions of Mezőség/Câmpie, Kalotaszeg/ Călotă/ Moldva/Moldova, Gyimes/Valea Trotosului, keeping alive Hungarian communities in their identity, traditions, and customs through the power of music. His legacy proved especially meaningful in diaspora communities where the preservation of the mother tongue and traditions are of paramount importance.
Zoltán Kallós - ethnologist
Kallós's work reflects not only his personal commitment but also the efforts of the Zoltán Kallós Foundation he established. The foundation’s mission is to preserve Hungarian folk music, folk art, and cultural heritage, as well as to foster and promote traditional values. Through various programmes, collections, and grants, the foundation contributes to strengthening the cultural identity of Hungarian communities. Thanks to the work of the Foundation, a love and respect for folk music is being made accessible to new generations through the events organised by the foundation and its folk music collections.
In this vein, the FOLK_ME initiative launched by the House of Traditions (Hagyományok Háza) also fits within this ethos, approaching the teaching of folk music and dance in a new, innovative way. The programme aims to make the authentic learning of Hungarian folk music accessible to young people, while respectfully preserving traditions. FOLK_ME not only imparts musical knowledge but also strengthens community identity, helping ensure that Hungarian folk culture lives on, not only in the past but in the future as well.