5.

Holidays & Celebrations

In Hungary at school we celebrate national holidays, such as 23rd October,

15th March and 20th August. On 15th March the revolution and war of
independence of 1848-49, on 23rd October the revolution of 1956 and
the declaration of the Hungarian Republic. 20th August is St. Stephen’s
Day. King Stephen I. founded the Hungarian state more than a thousand
years ago. On these days certain public celebrations take place. At
Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In Hungary the most
important day is Christmas Eve, 24 December, when the family comes
together for the Christmas dinner. The traditional dishes are fish soup,
stuffed cabbage and poppy seed and nut rolls. The Christmas tree is
decorated before the dinner. The presents are opened int he evening. At
midnight a lot of families go to church for the midnight service. In
Hungary on New Year’s Eve people usually go to the parties where they
eat and drink. At midnight they drink champagne and sing the national
anthem. Then people go to the streets and watch the fireworks. On Easter
Sunday morning we eat ham, hard-boiled eggs and cold pork in aspic.
Boys visit their relatives are friends and sprinkle women and girl with
perfume or water. They get chocolate. We celebrate the Resurrection,
that is, the rising of Jesus Christ from the tomb 3 days after his crucifixion.