National Day celebrations

The country – together as one! This was the motto given by the new government to this year’s celebrations of the national holiday of August 20th. This is the day when the country remembers the founder of the state, King Stephen I and traditionally, this is the time when new bread is baked from the newly harvested wheat.

In Budapest, the series of state programs began with the ceremonial hoisting of the national flag in front of the Parliament building. That was followed by Procession of military bands, associations for the preservation of traditions, and National Horse Guards of the Republic of Hungary. The procession ended at Heroes’ Square where then the passing-out parade of the new officers and a military show took place, followed by speeches by the President of the Republic, Pál Schmitt and the Minister of Defense Csaba Hende. Attendees were entertained there by a concert of military bands and a ceremonial changing of the guard

The afternoon saw the inauguration of the warship Lajta, built in 1871 and revamped for the national holiday, and a procession of ships on the river Danube. In the downtown area, there was a march called “Harvest Procession”, attended by traditionalists from the Festival of Folk Arts, five hundred children from flood-hit areas and the participants of the Meeting of Hungarian Youth from Beyond the Border. In front of the Basilica, a traditional August 20th procession took place, carrying the mummified “Holy Right” fist of King Stephen, a national relic.

The celebrations ended with the traditional ceremonial fireworks over the river Danube and a world music concert on the Pest side of Chain Bridge.

This year, August 20th was also dedicated to helping the victims of recent flooding in northeastern Hungary with the motto “Links of coherence”.

Charity events included the “Meals of St. Stephen’s Day” – Hungarian Gastro Promenade along the Danube embankment with charitable offerings by several organizations. There were also programs organized by the government for 500 children from flood-hit areas including the ceremonial cutting of the Birthday Cake of Hungary attended by politicians, invited artists and other well-known personalities.