The story

 

The International Gulyasleves Society was founded in 1971 in Copenhagen, with the objective “of raising the awareness of the qualities, of consuming  a bowl of the delicate Hungarian Gulyasleves (Gulyas soup)  in good company)”. The members took upon them “the task of promoting Gulyasleves to the entire world.”

 

The initiative was originally taken by a small group of Hungarians living in Denmark, after the Soviet suppression of the 1956 uprise  and some of their Danish friends. Those from Hungary were Gyula Mangold, Gergely Szabo and Laszlo Nemeth. On the Danish side it was Bent Bertramsen and Harald Rytz.

 

The gathering around the Gulyasleves was initially ment, as a symbolic gesture, allowing exile Hungarians, living in Denmark, to maintain a non political cultural link to their country of origin, from where they fled in 1956. For the Danish members the idea was to demonstrate their sympathy, towards those still trapped behind the iron curtain. However - along the road - things gradually became more relaxed.

 

Travel restrictions for the exile Hungarians, who originally were unable to return, were liberalized. And it became possible to fulfill the initial requirement in the Society’s statues, stating that the annual general assembly was to be held in Budapest. Encouraged by the effects of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Society began to explore the neighboring countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

 

Still - the careful preparation, cooking and the enjoyment around a bowl of the authentic Gulyasleves soup, with a glass of good wine, is the core activity of the Society. Members meet on a regular basis every second month in the Society’s premises in Copenhagen. In order to stay updated on initiatives among other Gulyas lovers, the Society maintains contact with similar groups in and outside Hungary - Often in the shape of festivals and Gulyasleves cooking competitions.

Luxembourg has it own branch of the  Gulyasleves Society, linked to Denmark.

 

Membership of the International Gulyasleves Society is open to any "decent male person, who shares its philosophy and is recommended by one or more existing members". The membership cannot exceed 30 Barons in Denmark. A wide variety of  professions are represented.  Historically, with an overweight of members - called BARONS - in Liberal professions, such as the Airline and Travel industry, as well as a broad spectrum of professionals working within the Media and Journalists.

 

In the Autumn of 2011 a delegation of 40 members and friends of  The International Gulyasleves Society celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Society in Budapest.