Northern Hungary
NORTHERN HUNGARY
This area is called Paloc, and extends from the Danube River to the Soviet
border. It is as famed for its many local crafts and embroideries as for
the wine called hull's blood or Egri Bikaver. Here in small
villages, life has continued with little change almost since medieval
times. Baking foods in ashes, collecting the eggs of wild birds, and even
grinding flour continue unchanged. Fish caught locally is still dried,
salted, or smoked for use during the winter, and cheeses are dried and
smoked in sausage shapes and hung from cottage rafters. The planting and
harvesting of both wheat and grapes to make wine are intertwined into many
local and colorful festivals which go back to ancient times.