We had a national holiday today, the anniversary of the anti-Hapsburg revolution (and then freedom fighting) in 1848-1849. This day is definitely our most patriotic national holiday. Hungarians wear a “kokárda” over their hearts on this day. Here is mine:
I went to the National Museum where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held his speech. This building played an important role in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Our national poet Sándor Petőfi proclaimed the demands of the revolution in 12 points and his famous poem Nemzeti dal , known by every Hungarian, on the front steps of this museum.
Artist Mihály Zichy’s rendition of Sándor Petőfi reciting the Nemzeti dal to the crowd on March 15, 1848. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
As always, many people turned up to listen to Prime Minister Orbán’s speech and there were a lot of Polish people there as well. March the 15th is a day of the traditional Hungarian-Polish friendship, too. (Besides the dedicated day: March the 23rd) Many Polish officers fought together with us against the Hapsburg rule and then against the Russian troops whom the Austrians called in for help. Chief-Commander General Józef Bem was one these heroes and Petőfi was his adjutant.
Polish participants hold a sign “Down with Communism! “
I couldn’t get very close to the museum itself:
The crowd listening to PM Orbán’s speech
The crowd inside the museum garden (as seen on a giant screen)
And a picture showing the prime minister during his speech:
I went to Budavár Castle in the afternoon but unfortunately the weather got nasty today. A strong gale developed and then also it started raining, so the outdoor events were called off soon. Normally this holiday is a family day, too, with all sort of kids programmes like this:
Kids’ programme
or hussars’ parades:
Hussars’ crossing the Chain Bridge
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