Hoisting the Hungarian Flag on the National Holiday

Hungary's national flag was hoisted on Sunday morning in front of the Parliament in Kossuth Lajos Square in Budapest, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Katalin Novák, on the occasion of the August 20 state holiday.

The flag was raised to the sound of the Hungarian National Anthem by the Hungarian Defense Forces. The event was accompanied by the Central Military Band and the National Cavalry Unit.

The ceremony was attended by public dignitaries, including members of the government, representatives of state and military organizations, the diplomatic corps and hundreds of visitors.

After the flag-raising ceremony, the candidates for the Hungarian Defense Forces took their oaths, followed by an air parade of the Hungarian Defense Forces on the Danube in front of the Parliament building.

August 20 is an official public holiday in Hungary commemorating the founding of the state and King Stephen. Many towns and cities throughout the country and beyond its borders hold events to mark the occasion.