Újév
New Year’s Day, spent with family eating lencsefőzelék lentils or pork for good luck in the coming year.
Újév, New Year’s Day on January 1, is a public holiday in Hungary and comes right after the louder celebrations of Szilveszter on New Year’s Eve. By midnight people have already toasted the new year, watched fireworks, and said “Boldog új évet!” so the daytime holiday is usually calmer. Many people sleep late, then spend the day at home or with close relatives. Phone calls and messages with New Year wishes continue through the morning, and families often gather for a late lunch rather than a big street celebration. In towns and cities, the streets are noticeably quieter than the night before, and many shops and services are closed for the holiday.
Food on Újév is strongly connected with luck for the coming year. A very typical dish is lencsefőzelék, a thick lentil stew, because the many small lentils are associated with coins and prosperity. Pork is also a favored New Year food, since Hungarian folk belief says the pig pushes luck forward, so roast pork or pork sausages often appear on the table. Many households avoid poultry on January 1 because it is said to scratch luck away. These customs give the meal a clear meaning: people are not just eating lunch, but trying to begin the year with health, money, and good fortune in the household.
The pack has 36 words spread across these domains.
Same words in both. Beginner gets more help: matching and completing. Advanced listens and spells it out unaided. Pick it in practice; it locks when you take the scored run.
Practise as often as you like, all year. The scored run happens once, while the competition is open, and cannot be retaken.