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Balint Balassi Memorial Sword Award

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

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]

The advisory board

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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

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  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

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