Coming to Hungary to study, the first big National Holiday celebration you witness is the October 23rd. What do Hungarians celebrate on that day and what is the program for 2022 – keep reading to find out more.
October 23rd marks the day of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 – the start of the uprising against the oppressive Stalinist, communist, and Soviet regime that had been controlling Hungary since the end of the World War II. Following the changes in the regime in Austria in 1955, Hungarians hoped to set themselves free from the Soviets, and demanded democratic changes with a demonstration organized by the students in Budapest. Even though the revolution was suppressed, this event is one of the most important in the history of the country and the whole Eastern Europe.
More than that, it is not the only thing that Hungarians celebrate on that day. The 23rd of October also marks the creation of the Republic of Hungary that happened in 1989. Of course, the date was chosen to honor the revolution of 1956.
The Role of Corvinus University
The predecessor institution of Corvinus played an important role in the start of the revolution. On October 22nd, the day before the start, a general meeting was held at the Karl Marx University of Economic Sciences. That is where the 22-point claim was formulated by teachers, students and young workers.
How are the holidays celebrated?
The 23rd of October is a public holiday, which means that shops, restaurants, public institutions, etc. will all be closed. However, most of the museums will remain open and will hold commemoration ceremonies.
Every year, celebrations are held across the country, while the biggest ones happen in Budapest. Programs start on the 22nd of October and will continue on the 23rd. Here you can find programs for 2022 (in Hungarian).
23rd of October is a very important day for every Hungarian, and now you know exactly why. Join the events to come a bit closer to Hungarian history and honor their fight for freedom and democracy!
