Public holidays in Hungary

A number of public holidays and special events take place each year in Hungary.

Fixed public holidays

Article J of the Constitution of Hungary on national holidays

(1) The national holidays of Hungary shall be:

a) the 15th day of March, in memory of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence,

b) the 20th day of August, in memory of the state's founding and its founder King Saint Stephen,

c) the 23rd day of October, in memory of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence.

(2) The official state holiday shall be the 20th day of August.

Source:[1]

List of public holidays
Date English name Local name Remarks
1 JanuaryNew Year's DayÚjév
15 MarchNational DayNemzeti ünnep Memorial day of the 1848 Revolution (which aimed at the independence of the Hungarian Kingdom from the Austrian Empire). There are usually speeches and music such as the Nemzeti dal; many people wear a cockade with the national colours red, white, and green.
MoveableGood FridayNagypéntek Good Friday is public holiday since 2017 .
MoveableEaster MondayHúsvéthétfő Men visit women to sprinkle them with perfume (or in the countryside, sometimes water), first asking permission by reciting a verse. In return, the women give the men eggs (sometimes painted, sometimes chocolate). Children receive chocolate eggs (sometimes fruits and nuts, chocolate rabbits), from the Easter Bunny; these gifts are sometimes hidden in the garden or house. (Real rabbits are sometimes gifted.) The day's meal is often ham, eggs, sweetbreads, and horseradish for breakfast.
1 MayLabour DayA munka ünnepe The countries of the EU are represented with special programmes, bridges are decorated and exhibitions are held. Labour Day coincides with May Day (majális); many attend outdoor festivities in public parks. Since 2004 it is also the anniversary of the accession to the EU.
MoveablePentecost MondayPünkösdhétfő Monday after Pentecost
20 AugustState Foundation Day Az államalapítás ünnepe Commemoration of Hungary's first king St. Stephen, also the day of the foundation of Hungary and "the day of the new bread". St. Stephen (Szent István király, ca. 975 – 15 August 1038), as the first king of Hungary, led the country into the Christian church and established the institutions of the kingdom and the church. He was canonized on 20 August 1083, and 20 August is his feast day in Hungary.

Celebrated with a half-hour fireworks display on the bank of the Danube in the evening, watched from both river banks, the Buda hills, and the rooftops of Pest and Buda. Under the Hungarian People's Republic, 20 August was celebrated as the founding of the socialist republic.[2]

23 OctoberNational DayNemzeti ünnep Memorial day of the 1956 Revolution, which fought to expel Soviet troops from Hungary and establish free elections. Also the day of the proclamation of the Third Hungarian Republic (1989). Celebrated with speeches and exhibitions.
1 NovemberAll Saints DayMindenszentek Day of remembrance of the dead. Family and friends decorate graves in Christian cemeteries.
25 DecemberChristmas DayKarácsony Public transport stops operating at about 4 pm on the 24th, Christmas Eve (Szenteste) as most families gather to celebrate, placing presents under a Christmas tree which has been decorated while the children are away from the house. Presents are then opened and a large meal eaten in celebration. On the 25th and 26th, people usually visit relatives.
26 DecemberSecond Day of ChristmasKarácsony másnapja  

Remembrance days endorsed by the state

Remembrance Days are working days in Hungary.

Date English name Local name Remarks
1 FebruaryMemorial Day of the RepublicA köztársaság emléknapja Commemorating the law (1946. évi I. törvény) on the proclamation of the republic in 1946, memorial day since 2006.
25 FebruaryMemorial Day for the Victims of the Communist DictatorshipsA kommunista diktatúrák áldozatainak emléknapja On this day in 1947 Béla Kovács, Secretary-General of the Independent Smallholders' Party was arrested and deported to the Soviet Union. Memorial day since 2000, commemorations are held in high schools.
16 AprilMemorial Day for the Victims of the HolocaustA holokauszt áldozatainak emléknapja On this day in 1944 the Jews of Subcarpathia were rounded up and forced into ghettos. Memorial day since 2001, commemorations are held in high schools.
21 MayNational Defense DayHonvédelmi nap Battle of Buda (1849)
4 JuneDay of National UnityA nemzeti összetartozás napja Commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Trianon, when the Kingdom of Hungary lost 72% of its territory. National memorial day since 2010.
19 JuneIndependent Hungary DayA független Magyarország napja Commemorating the execution of the martyrs of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution (on 16 June 1958), and the anniversary of the end of the Soviet occupation of Hungary. Memorial day since 2001.
6 OctoberMemorial Day for the Martyrs of AradAz aradi vértanúk emléknapja Commemorating the anniversary of the 1849 execution of the 13 Martyrs of Arad after the defeat of the Hungarian Independence War. National memorial day, commemorations are held in primary and high schools.

Holidays not endorsed by the state
Date English Name Local Name Remarks
8 MarchInternational Women's DayNemzetközi nőnap Women get flowers and gifts from their employers and schoolchildren often bring gifts for their teachers.
4 AprilLiberation DayFelszabadítási Nap During World War II in Hungary, the Soviet Red Army liberated Hungary from the Nazi German regime. Was celebrated until 1989[2]
7 NovemberGreat October Socialist RevolutionNagy októberi szocialista forradalom Throughout the existence of Communist rule in Hungary, the country celebrated the Russian Socialist Revolution commemorating the 1917 uprising by the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin. Celebrated simultaneously with the Soviet Union.[2]
6 DecemberSanta Claus, Saint Nicholas DayMikulás, Télapó On this day, Hungarian children polish their boots and put them in the window. Mikulás comes in the night and fills them with chocolates and/or small presents. If they were bad, they might get sticks instead.
31 DecemberNew Year's EveSzilveszter Young people go partying until morning. Streets are noisy with paper trumpets, hoots and the pop of champagne corks; people often wear masks and throw petards. Those who stay home usually watch comedies made for the occasion; at midnight they drink champagne and wish each other good luck for the new year (BÚÉK). All Hungarian radio & television channels broadcast the national anthem at midnight, and then the President's speech. Firework displays are common. The next day streets are empty, and people sleep late (or sleep themselves sober). Lentils are eaten, symbolising coins for good luck.
MoveableCarnivalFarsang A six-day regional carnival, originally celebrated by the Šokci (ethnic-Croatians) living in the town of Mohács. Traditions include folk music, masquerading, parades and dancing.

Special events

Hungary's most notable annual events include the Budapest Spring Festival (mid-march to mid-April), Hortobágy Equestrian Days (late June), Sopron Early Music Days (late June), Festival in Budapest (late June), Miskolc Opera Festival (late June), Miskolc Kalálka International Folk Festival (July), Győr Summer Festival (late June), Győr Summer Cultural Festival (late June to late July), Pannon Festival in Pécs (July and August), Szentendre Summer Festival (July), Kőszeg Street Theatre Festival (late July), Savaria International Dance Competition in Szombathely (July), Debrecen Jazz Days (July), Szeged Open Air Festival (mid-July to August), Diáksziget (shorter: "Sziget" or "Sziget Festival", Student Island or Pepsi Island) north of Budapest (August), Eger Wine Harvest Festival (September), and Budapest Autumn Arts Festival (mid-September to mid-October).

St Stephen's Day (August 20) is celebrated with sporting events, parades and fireworks nationwide. On the same day there is a Floral Festival in Debrecen and a Bridge Fair in nearby Hortobágy. Formula 1 car races are held in early August at the Hungaroring near Mogyoród, 18 km northeast of Budapest.[3]

References
  1. "The Fundamental Law of Hungary" (PDF). kormany.hu. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. Cavendish, Marshall (2005), p. 114.
  3. Public Holidays and Special Events Archived 2004-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
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