Public holidays in Hungary

The Hungarians commemorate March 15, the day of the Hungarian Revolution and War of
Independence of 1848-49, August 20, the day of King Stephen I, and October 23, the day of the
Declaration of the Hungarian Republic. We also celebrate the new bread on August 20.

A public holiday (October 23)

October 23rd is a national holiday in Hungary commemorating the anniversary of the Hungarian
Revolution, also known as the Hungarian Upraising of 1956. Sixty-one years ago today, on the heels
of Polands rebellion, students and workers took to the streets of Budapest and a spontaneous
national revolt against Soviet rule erupted. The movement was suppressed on November 4th with
the arrival of tanks in Budapest. For 3 decades, public discussion of the uprising was silenced. That
changed in 1989 with the fall of communism in eastern Europe and the official declaration of
Hungary as a republic. Every year, on this day patriotic speeches fill the air, and celebrations include
folk music, dancing and cultural events.