Happy New Year 2025

It’s hard to believe that 11(!) years ago I posted a letter from New Year’s eve 1944-1945. Exactly 80 years ago now. I’m sharing that letter anew today. Since originally posting the letter, I’ve been able to get a translation of the portions that are in Hungarian. It’s a letter of well-wishing and short sweet sentiments and I hope it helps you start this new year off with some levity and hope, hard as that can feel sometimes.

I wonder how it felt to receive this letter – bittersweet for Alex, I imagine. A note filled with affection and well-wishing but also a reminder that everyone you love is together and you are far from them. I love the idea of everyone contributing to a single letter, taking turns to sit down during their celebrations to send their love to their son, brother, husband… When I first posted this letter I didn’t even realize that Alex’s dad, David (who my father is named after), wrote in it because he wrote in Hungarian. Something about his short message feels sweet and caring, while maintaining a slight air of formality. I wonder if it feels formal to me just because of my contemporary sensibility/ informal way of speaking, or if it’s also because letter writing is also inherently more formal than talking.

As always, these letters leave a lot of questions behind. I’m not sure who all the people who wrote were and I don’t know if there are pages missing from this letter. Eighty years ago they were wishing for peace and reunion and I wish that for you today. Thanks for reading, here’s the letter:

Dear Alex –Happy New year and lots of love. Your sister Serena

We are all together wishing you good health and to see you soon here. Your brother in law, Renato

Wishing you a happy new year and hoping that long before the next celebration we wll be all together in good health. From your old friends Alicia and Adalbeil Fiace

HUNGARIAN: Őszintekívül egy igen boldog új évet kívánok és minél előbb itthon legyen, és keményesen ismerhessen meg kivéges időközletet.
Illés Schiller

ENGLISH: I sincerely wish you a very happy New Year, and may you return home as soon as possible and overcome the difficult times.
Illés Schiller

HUNGARIAN: Kedves Sanyim!
Együtt vagyunk a szilveszterben, nagyon sajnálom, hogy nem vagy te is, de Jenő és Paulina is itt. Boldog új évet és sok erőt, szeretettel csókolunk!
Anyád!

Kedves Sanyikó,
Adja a jó Isten, hogy ez az új év meghozza azt az annyira áhított békét, olyan békét, mely tartós és gyümölcsöző legyen, hogy a te gyermeked is…

ENGLISH: Dear Sanyi!
We are together for New Year’s Eve, and I’m very sorry that you are not here, but Jenő and Paulina are also here. Wishing you a Happy New Year and much strength, sending kisses with love!
Your Mother!

Dear Sanyika,
May the good Lord bring the much-desired peace this new year, a peace that will be lasting and fruitful, so that your child too…

HUNGARIAN … az enyém ne tudja meg soha, csak a történelem könyvből, hogy háború is létezni szokott.
Adja Isten, hogy te, mint leendő hős, hamarosan itthon lehessetek, jó egészségben.
Csókol Amius.

ENGLISH ... and mine may never know, except from history books, that wars ever existed.
May God grant that you, as a future hero, will soon be home with us in good health.
Kisses, Amius.(?)

Come home soon in good health and Zai gezunt. [Stay well in Yiddish]–Your mu-in law.

Dear Alex:
It is the New Years Eve – in 2 hours and ½ we are in 1945! We all came here early this afternoon – and enjoyed very much dear Adrienne’s company. She is beautiful and so adorable and I am proud that she has a preference for me – Before going to bed she kissed us all – now we are waiting till the clock (radio) strike 12. Well, I send you the best wishes in the hope to see you here soon in very sound health. Your’s affectionately, Anichad(?)

HUNGARIAN: Mindig szeretettel gondolva rád, annál előbb viszontlátást kívánok. Boldog új évet!
Atyád Dávid

English:
“Always thinking of you with love, I wish to see you again as soon as possible. Happy New Year!
Your father, Dávid”

Darling, everyone’s up including Adrienne and drinking to victory in the new year. You can’t believe how much I missed you – dearest husband, let this be just a New Years wish – to have you home shortly, safe and sound, and for our brothers and friends and all the boys fighting those bastards, a decisive victory in the New Year and let them all come home safe. I love you, dearest, with all my heart, Sylvia