DANCERS — The traditional costumed dancers under garlands of fruit, at left, are a huge part of the Hungarian Harvest Festival. Photo by Susie Cambre

SPRINGFIELD — The younger dancers attired in white with brightly colored ribbons, vests and hats steadied themselves and prepared to dance the traditional dances of the old country.

Meanwhile, the older dancers smiled with memories of the many Hungarian Settlement Harvest Festivals that have passed before this one.

The American Legion Hall was packed as always with eager participants and visitors and the ceiling was decorated with a multitude of garlands and garlands of all sorts of delightful and fresh fruit.

The jumping for the fruit by all present would culminate the evening-long celebration Saturday.

Hungarian Settlement, a small rural community between Albany and Springfield, has been home to a rural ethnic community of Hungarians called Magyar for more than 100 years.

“This ethnic enclave, once known as çrp‡dhon, currently contains many of the descendants of the early Magyar settlers who immigrated there near the turn of the 20th century,” said Arpadhon Hungarian Settlement Cultural Association President Jim King. “Our organization was formed 25 years ago to insure our heritage and culture would be remembered and preserved. It is important that the sacrifices and gifts of ancestors long ago would be celebrated.

“We are successful in what we are doing when you see so many of our young people here participating and dancing in this extremely important event of our heritage and history.”

The çrp‡dhon Hungarian Settlement Cultural Association sponsors the annual festival. Members of this organization and of the community join in celebrating their heritage and traditions by wearing traditional old country festive clothing, cooking and sharing Hungarian pastries while dancing and singing the old songs.

The lines snaked around the building Saturday for the always-popular rich cream cheese and fruit- stuffed pastries, kiflik and kalacs. The Hungarian sausages tasted even more wonderful than they smelled.

The food provided by Olde World Bakery and Louis Bartus Sausage was the real thing from the old country. Anton Davis, a visitor from New Orleans originally from Hungary, eagerly ate his delights while dancing, singing along and laughing.

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“The kalac and the sausages are as good or better than I remembered at home growing up,” he said with a smiled covered with powdered sugar. “It is fantastic!”

Pastry cooks June DeMars, Helen Kropog and Margaret Resetar rapidly fried the crepe-like desserts , filled them with cream cheese and fruit and distributed them to the awaiting crowds.

“We learned to cook these dishes from our mothers and grandmothers. You can’t find Hungarian pastries just anywhere,” DeMars said. “The recipes are special and proudly created, presented and shared for our visitors here today. It is hard work to feed this many people, but we love it. Look at their faces covered with powdered sugar and broad smiles and licking their fingers! ”

Singers Megan Green, 9, and Samantha Green, 16, performed traditional songs with history professor Vickie Moscary and the Poo-Yai Band. They have been participating in these traditional dances and music since they were very young and have performed at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and many other events with their group.

They danced with 21 other children and adults.

“We love to dress up, learn the songs and the dances. It’s fun, and we like feeling like we are a part of history,” Samantha said. “I know we’re doing something special that not too many other people do. Plus, it’s a family thing, too.”

A high point in the evening was the auction of a gallon of the famous strawberry wine made by local favorite, Pete Pffifner. The bidding was competitive with lots of excited yelling. The winner walked away with his $165 prize and the association’s treasury was a little richer.

Stephen Gergatz, the honorary consul for the Consulate of the Republic of Hungary, and his wife, Julianna Biika, were special guests. They danced, ate and shared stories with the visitors and participants. Gergatz is no stranger to this area having worked at Lallie Kemp Hospital in Independence and having frequently traveled between New Orleans, New Jersey and Hungary.

“This Harvest Festival is a wonderful way to share our culture with others, to help people understand who we are and where we come from and where we are going, “ he said. “We are a culture that places a strong importance on family, hard work and our faith. This gathering shows what it is all about. We are honoring our ancestors and loved ones gone before by bringing their culture to our children and others.”

Organizer Nichole King Smith, daughter of Jim King, carries on the traditions with determination and passion.

“This is a year-long project in the planning and putting everything together. There are a lot of hard working members in this group and each one contributes a great deal,” she said. “Partnering with SLU’s annual October event, Fanfare, was a natural decision for both Southeastern and for us. It brings people from all over the country to join us for our festival.”

Jayden Jenkins, 4-year-old son of Allison Jenkins from New Iberia, didn’t care about all of that. He just loved dancing along to the music with sticky hands filled with cream cheese and jelly as he laughed and played on the dance floor.

“Yes, this is a family event and that’s what it is all about,” Jim King said. “Next year, it will be even bigger and better. Tell everybody to come join us.”