Balint Balassi Memorial Sword Award

The Balint Balassi Memorial Sword Award is a European award for literature presented in Budapest since 1997. The native form of this name is Balassi Bálint-emlékkard (Balassi Bálint-emlékkard). This award commemorates the 16th century Hungarian poet Bálint Balassi. The memorial sword is presented annually to an outstanding Hungarian poet, and to a foreign poet for excellence in translation of Hungarian literature, including the works of Balassi. The sword itself is a replica of those sabres that the 16th century Hungarian cavalry wore during the sieges of fortresses. They are the work of a contemporary swordsmith. This award is presented each year on Bálint's (Valentine's) Day, February 14, in the city of Buda. The celebration venue is traditionally the Hotel Gellért.[1]

Balint Balassi Memorial Sword Award 2010 logo
Balassi Bálint-emlékkard
Statue of Bálint Balassi in park, Esztergom Castle, Esztergom

The advisory board edit

The founder of the new award is Pal Molnar journalist,[2] his fellows are Gabriella Lőcsei journalist, József Zelnik writer[3] and András Rubovszky hotelier. In addition, all past award winners automatically become board members, so the literary profession makes up the majority.

Global focus edit

In the beginning only Hungarian poets received the Balassi sword, but since 2002, each year, a foreign literary translator has also been recognized. Since then the board has viewed Balassi's sword as a literary prize of European scope. But since then it has been received by Asian and American poets as well, making it an award of global scope.

Balassi Mass edit

Since 2008, the Balint Balassi Memorial Swords have been blessed during a Balassi Mass[4] held a few days before the award ceremony. On January 25, 2013, in the presence of some three hundred Hungarians, Bishop Laszlo Kiss-Rigo blessed the two swords during a Mass celebrated in Saint Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.

The prize itself edit

In addition to the sharp, dangerous weapon – which is made by József Fazekas armourer[5] – the winners receive a diploma, a limited-edition porcelain statue from the famous Herend manufacture[6] and a bottle of wine. The particular wine is selected at a national tasting competition in the preceding year, and as a result this champion wine is entitled to don the “Balassi's sword” label.

Past recipients edit

References edit

  1. ^ Danubius Hotel Gellért (2014-08-01). "Danubius Hotel Gellért, Budapest". Danubiushotels.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  2. ^ "MolnarPal". Molnarpal.hu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  3. ^ "Magyar Művészeti Akadémia tagjainak adatlapja". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  4. ^ "Kathpress | Katholische Presseagentur Österreich". Kathweb.at. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  5. ^ "Pyraster home page". Archived from the original on 2010-01-12. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  6. ^ "Herend – Herend in the Castle". Archived from the original on 2009-08-30. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  7. ^ "A magyar irodalom története 1945–1975 / TÓTH BÁLINT (1929)". Mek.niif.hu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  8. ^ "Magyar Művészeti Akadémia tagjainak adatlapja". Archived from the original on 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  9. ^ "Utassy József | Petőfi Irodalmi Múzeum". Pim.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  10. ^ "It works!". Olasz.btk.ppke.hu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "FERENCZES István". Pontkiado.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  12. ^ "Humanistinen tiedekunta". Jyu.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  13. ^ "Csokits J?Nos". Archived from the original on 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-04-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "Tari István". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  16. ^ "Ganbold". Archived from the original on 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  17. ^ "Ágh István | Petőfi Irodalmi Múzeum". Pim.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  18. ^ "UCSB Department of English". Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2010-04-01.

Sources edit

External links edit