Hungarian folklore is full of folk weather forecast prophecies. One of the most popular ones is attached to these three popular name-days with the rhyming verse: SÁNDOR, JÓZSEF, BENEDEK, ZSÁKBAN HOZZÁK A MELEGET (Sándor-József-Benedek bring warm weather in a sack). SÁNDOR (nickname SANYI, the Hungarian equivalent for Alexander or Alex) day is March 18th , JÓZSEF (JÓZSI, JÓSKA, JOCÓ) is the 19th, and on the 21st March is BENEDEK or BENCE, the latter being the #1 most popular male name given to babies for the past five years.

The rhyme refers to the beginning of spring, which is marked by the arrival of the first storks and swallows, the major migrant birds which find their homes all over the Hungarian Plain until they leave in September.

The word MELEG in Hungarian can be both an adjective or a noun, which makes the translation of the verse a bit difficult. Language learners should also be aware of the double meaning of MELEG as an adjective. If you want to say ’I am hot’ use MELEGEM VAN (’I have warmness’) and definitely not the literal translation MELEG VAGYOK, unless you want to come out and share the news that you are gay.

The Hungarian name-day calendar is a good thing to have. Hungarians celebrate their friends’ name days and locals will appreciate it if you know when theirs is and congratulate them on it as you would a birthday.