This April, the Tulipán Foundation welcomed the season of renewal with a series of community gatherings centered around the art of Hungarian egg decorating. From intimate school workshops to larger celebrations in both New York and Boston, each gathering was a beautiful reminder of the lasting impact of our cultural heritage and the simple joy of making something by hand.
At the heart of it all was a shared message: our traditions are unbreakable—not because they remain unchanged, but because we continue to shape them together. In response to the ongoing egg shortage, each of our events used high-quality wooden eggs, offering guests a lasting keepsake. As a meaningful way to give back, Tulipán also partnered with City Harvest to donate the cost equivalent of 1,000 eggs, supporting efforts to fight food insecurity in New York City.
The excitement began on April 5th at the Hungarian House of New York, where members of the Arany János Hungarian School community came together for a morning of crafting, as they learned about traditional Eastern European motifs before trying their hand at the techniques themselves. Just a few days later, on April 11th, we brought this same spirit to Millennium Brooklyn High School—this time joined by three master artists from Hungary, who led a series of hands-on sessions introducing students to this festive form of folk art.
The largest event in this spring series took place on April 12th at the Bohemian National Hall, presented in collaboration with the Czech Center New York. Similar to our Family Easter celebrations in past years, egg decorating was the central focus of the afternoon. But this year, we were proud to feature the talents of our master artists once again, each sharing a distinctive method of egg decoration.
Award-winning decorator and Tulipán grantee Ildikó Fekete introduced the wax-resist method, demonstrating how intricate patterns emerge as dye is layered over beeswax designs. Emőke Benkovics showcased the drop-pull technique, stretching tiny wax droplets into delicate designs, then finishing them with a touch of gold. Ilona Szelesné Kása introduced an eco-conscious approach, using natural dyes made from ingredients like red cabbage and onion skins to add rich, organic color.
Festivities concluded on April 13th with Hungarian Heritage Day in Boston, where our artists led egg decorating demonstrations as part of a larger day-long celebration organized by the Hungarian Society of Massachusetts. With live music, dance performances, traditional foods, and a full suite of folk art workshops, this event was a perfect conclusion to a week of shared traditions.
These four events welcomed hundreds of participants across several major cities. Whether you joined us in a school classroom or a beloved cultural center, each gathering was a testament to the strength of Hungarian traditions—not because they remain unchanged, but because of our ability to adapt and carry them forward together.