Hungarian Republic Day is celebrated on October 23 every year. This day is to commemorate two major events in the history of Hungary. One is that the Hungarian people stand up against the Soviet Union, and the other is the establishment of Hungary in 1989. The Hungarian Revolution was an impulsive uprising that spread throughout Hungary. The whole country rebelled against the policies imposed on it by the local government and the Soviet Union. The revolution lasted from October 23 to November 10, 1956. Although the revolution failed, it played an important role in the disintegration of the Soviet Union many years later.
History of Hungarian Republic Day
After the end of World War II, Hungary has been under the control of the Soviet Union. Later, when democratic changes occurred in Austria, the Hungarians hoped for the same adjustment. Unfortunately, after the establishment of the Warsaw Pact in 1955, the hopes of the Hungarian people were shattered. In order to ask Hungary to carry out democratic changes and get rid of Soviet rule, Hungarian students held a protest in Budapest in 1956. It has the support of most people, and the number of protesters has been increasing, which has led to many protests across Hungary.
The Soviets tried to regain control by deploying tanks on the streets of Budapest. As a result, the Hungarian people rebelled against the local government until the Soviets called for a ceasefire and declared fair elections. The above event is called the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. To commemorate this event, the Hungarians announced the establishment of the Third Republic of Hungary on October 23, 1989. The Hungarians demanded some changes to the Hungarian Constitution, including allowing multi-party politics, public gatherings, and the establishment of separation of powers in the government.
Hungarian Republic Day Celebration
October 23 is Hungarian Republic Day. The main celebration will be a flag-raising ceremony in front of the parliament building at 9 am on October 23, followed by various programs in the afternoon, such as the prime minister’s keynote speech. The iconic symbol of this day is the Hungarian flag with a hole in the middle, which symbolizes the flag carried by the revolutionaries after they cut the communist Lakosi emblem from the middle in 1956.
Except for Christmas, most shops in Hungary are open on public holidays. Please note that if the holiday is a Monday, the museum and art gallery will not be open because they are closed every Monday. The bar and restaurant will be open. The Hungarian Parliament Building is free to enter on Republic Day, which means it will be busier than usual.
Some Facts about Hungary
1. Hungary used to be part of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the “Huns”—the people at the time—gave the country a name—Hungary.
2. It is one of the oldest countries in Europe. In contrast, Hungary’s territory is slightly smaller than Indiana. Hungary is also one of the 50 countries that lead the world in industrial carbon dioxide emissions.
3. Hungarian is a direct descendant of the Huns language. It is not an Indo-European language family. In addition to their mother tongue, many Hungarians speak English, German, French or (since World War II) Russian.
4. Communism rule became prominent in the country after World War II. By the late 1980s, the country owed $18 billion in debt, making it the country with the highest per capita debt in Europe.
5. Hungary joined NATO in 1999 and joined the European Union in 2004.
6. There are more than 1,500 spas in the country with Roman, Greek, and Turkish architectural styles.
7. Hungary is famous for its Nobel Prize winners. There are 13 such winners. They have won Nobel Prizes in all categories except “Peace.” However, all Nobel Prize winners have immigrated from the country.
8. Nearly 5% of their GDP is used for education, and as a result, their literacy rate reaches 99%. Hungary has approximately 77 higher education institutions, including 10 universities and 9 technical schools. In 2017, there were 91 men for every 100 women in the country.
9. Hungarians win gold medals every time they participate in the Olympics. According to the size of the population, the number of gold medals won by Hungarians is second only to Finland. The Budapest Grand Prix is the only Formula One racing competition in Eastern Europe. It opened in August 1986.
10. It is one of the thirty most popular tourist destinations in the world.
