Celebrating St Stephen’s Day with fireworks in Budapest.
August 20 is a national holiday in Hungary to celebrate the life of its patron saint and founding father. Celebrating St Stephen’s Day in Budapest is an unforgettable experience full of religious ceremony and spectacular fireworks.
Born in 970 AD, Stephen was the pagan son of a noble Magyar chieftain; he converted to Christianity and united tribal Hungary at a time when its peoples were largely nomadic. He became the country’s first king in 1000 and was responsible for founding religious orders, creating a feudal agricultural system and developing a united Hungarian army. Stephen’s reign was largely peaceful, with Hungary growing stable under his guidance. He died on August 15 1038 and was canonized five days later by Pope Gregory VII.
Hungarians celebrate the arrival of Stephen’s body into Budapest on August 20, the day he was canonized. His Holy Crown and regalia are now among Hungary’s most precious state treasures and are displayed in the Hungarian Parliament Building and his relics lie in the glittering St Stephen’s Basilica. According to legend his right hand did not decay along with his corpse, and at some point it was separated from his body and preserved before disappearing into central Europe. It was later bought by the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa and restored to Hungary.
Over the years St Stephen’s Day came to symbolize the founding of the Hungarian nation, and like many nationalistic or religious festivals, it was banned under Communism in 1945. Following the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the festival was reinstated as a celebration of the life of St Stephen and of the freedom of the Hungarian people.
August 20 is a national holiday and celebrations start with family feasting the night beforehand. Then at 9am, Hungary’s flag is raised in Heroes’ Square. Religious celebrations include a special Mass held in St Stephen’s Basilica at 5pm, followed by the processing of the saint’s mummified right hand around the cathedral and city streets. Later in the evening there are open-air classical concerts near the Chain Bridge and proceedings culminate with one of the world’s most spectacular firework displays, kicking off at 9pm.
The firework displays are synchronized from three points along the Danube River: in front of Gellért Hill, Budapest Castle and near the Margit bridge. Hundreds of thousands of Budapest locals crowd the riverbanks every year. The best place to watch the fireworks is from the hills on the Buda side of the city between the Chain and Erszebet bridges – or even better while floating along the river enjoying a Danube dinner cruise.
– Contributed by Sasha Heseltine
Celebrating St Stephen’s Day in Budapest from Budapest Things to Do