So the blog is now in standby mode for a few days as tomorrow is a National Holiday and so as with many it is time to escape from the city for a few days. As Wednesday is the holiday it lends itself well to take the extra days off and have 5 days total.

August 20th is the greatest national holiday for Hungarians, celebrated with day-long festivities followed by spectacular fireworks throughout the country. August 20th commemorates the foundation of the Hungarian state, it’s like Hungary’s 4th of July. Also called as St. Stephen’s Day, remembering Stephen I, the first king of Hungary and founder of the Kingdom of Hungary, who was canonized on August 20th, 1083 by Pope Gregory VII.

Festivities start in the morning with the raising of the Hungarian flag and continue on all day long, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over the Danube.

August 20, 2014 – Programs

In 2014, the August 20th celebrations begin on the 19th with a cake cutting ceremony at 10 am. It has now become a tradition to select an official cake for Hungary. Visitors to the ‘Street of Hungarian Flavors’ (Magyar Ízek Utcája) on the Danube embankment can enjoy a slice. Celebrations continue on the 20th with the raising of the Hungarian flag (8:30 am to 10 am) in Kossuth tér, an open day at the Parliament (10 am to 4 pm), and many other programs

‘Street of Hungarian Flavors’
Where: Danube embankment in Buda
When: from 10 am to midnight on Aug 19 and from 10 am to 10 pm on Aug 20

Open-air concerts
Where: Clark Ádám tér
When: 10 am to 10 pm

High Mass
Where: St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szent István tér)
When: 5 pm

Procession of St. Stephen’s Holy Right Hand
Where: St. Stephen’s Basilica – Szent István tér – Október 6. utca – József Attila utca – Széchényi tér – Zrínyi utca – Szent István tér
When: from 5 pm

Fireworks
Where: both embankments of the river Danube
When: from 9 pm