State events marking the August 20th national holiday celebrating Hungary’s first Christian king, St Stephen, will be held over three days this year.
Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communications and Relations, said the celebrations will honor a more than 1,000-year-old state that protects not only its own identity and culture but also the culture, borders and identity of Europe.
Programs include a gastronomy festival of Hungarian specialties starting on August 18th. It will also feature programs for families and concerts in the evening.
Kovács said the celebrations on August 20th will begin with the hoisting of the national flag in front of Parliament and an oath-taking ceremony for 130 new soldiers. The event will be addressed by President János Áder and Defense Minister Tibor Benkő. Their speeches will be followed by an air and water parade put on by the Armed Forces of Hungary.
The highlight of the celebrations will be the tradtional fireworks display to be held along the banks of the River Danube.
Photo credit: utadon.hu