January 1 New Year's Eve (Szilveszter) and New Year's Day (Újév)

Besides the standard merry-making, there is also a New Year's ball and concert at the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest. Stalls on the streets of Budapest sell masks and noisy paper trumpets.

Early January - Ash Wednesday

The ball season starts – formal balls are held all over the country.

February – Farsang

Costume parties and carnivals take place all month long to mark the end of winter, especially on the last Saturday in February. City festivities usually include carnival, parade and open-air music concert.

February 14 Valentine's Day - Bálint nap

Hungarians started celebrating this holiday after 1989.

March 8 Women's Day – Nőnap

Men give flowers to women both at home and work.

March 15 Anniversary of the 1848 Revolution – 1848-as Forradalom és Szabadságharc

The “Hungarian spring” – a bloodless fight for freedom against Habsburg domination which later led to war against Austria and its allies (at the time: the Croats and Romanians). The main demands of Hungarians were:

Ø      freedom of the press,

Ø      the establishing of a Hungarian parliament in Pest with its government,

Ø      freedom of religion,

Ø      a jury,

Ø      a national bank,

Ø      a Hungarian army,

Ø      and the withdrawal of foreign military presence from the country.

In 1849 Russia intervened on the side of Austria, and won. The Austrian retorsion included the execution of 13 generals of the Hungarian revolutionary army and of 5 civilian leaders of the short-lived independent Hungary. One of them was the first prime-minister, count Lajos Batthyany. Each year on March 15, the Hungarian tricolors of red, white, and green are prominently displayed all over the country. People gather at the Petöfi Statue and the National Museum to remember the revolt.

March or April Easter – Húsvét

Easter is an important religious holiday in Hungary. The day before families with children paint easter-eggs of
all styles and color. Children find small gifts beside their beds early Sunday morning. A traditional breakfast follows of easter-eggs, ham, braided cake bread, horse-radish and hot chocolate. Many families go to church this morning to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On Monday, many people carry on the tradition of "sprinkling". While once young men used to pour buckets of water over young women's heads, today they spray perfume or water and then ask for a kiss and a red egg. Painted eggs as well as chocolate-ones are exchanged.

April or May Pentecost

May 1 Labour Day Labor Day – A munka ünnepe

During communist rule, there were large parades on May 1, Labour Day. Now workers celebrate with beer and music. Workers unions organize a celebration in Városliget (Budapest's City Park) with speeches, acrobats, clowns and music.

First Sunday in May Mother's Day – Anyák napja

Mothers receive flowers, sometimes hand-picked, and other presents, usually handmade from their children on this day.

Last Sunday in May Children's Day – Gyermeknap

Parents take children on special outings to places such as the Zoo, fun fairs, or on family nature walks (kirándulás) in the Buda hills.

June 30 Withdrawal of Soviet Troops – A szovjet csapatok kivonása

This day marks the final withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary in 1991.

August 20 St. Stephen's Day – Szent István napja

In the year of 1000, Hungary’s first king, the Christian St Stephen, was crowned this day, and the Hungarian (Magyar) state was founded. A case containing the right hand of St. Stephen is carried in a procession from the Basilica through the streets of Budapest.

Traditionally, the first bread from the new harvest is baked for this day.

In 1949, Hungary (then the "Magyar People's Republic") accepted its constitution.

Parades and music are among the festivities, and an impressive fireworks show is launched over the Danube at night.

October 23 1956 Remembrance Day and Declaration of the Republic – Az 1956-os forradalom napja

This national holiday commemorates the outbreak of the people's uprising against Soviet domination in 1956 which was led by students who wanted to change the political system. The new prime Minister, Imre Nagy withdrew from the Warsaw Pact of “communist” countries. Soviet troops invaded. Hungary appealed for UN assistance against Soviet invasion, but only received verbal help.  Holland & Spain withdrew from Olympics, to protest Soviets in Hungary. UN demanded USSR leave Hungary. In November, after lots of bloodshed, the Hungarian revolution was put down by the powerful Red Army of the Soviet Union. Imre Nagy and many other leaders and participants were executed by the soviet regime, hundreds of people died and thousands were forced to flee the country. Soviet troops stayed in Hungary  until 1991.

When Hungary became an independent republic in 1989, October 23 was chosen as the day on which independence would be proclaimed, to honour those who had fought in 1956.

November 1 All Saints' Day – Mindenszentek napja

People remember their deceased loved ones by lighting candles at their graves in cemeteries. While Halloween is not celebrated in Hungary, you can find several expat-inspired

December 6 Santa Claus (St. Nicholas') Day – Mikulás

Children put their clean boots on their window-sills the night before. In the morning, “Good” children find  candy, nuts and fruit, sometimes even small toys in their boots, while “bad” ones get bunches of twigs
(virgács) painted gold and tied up with a red ribbon. Mikulás, however, never finds entirely wicked children in Hungary. Most kids then receive both candy and virgács.

December 24 to 26 Christmas Christmas – Karácsony

The traditional family Christmas celebration, dinner and exchange of gifts takes place on the eve of December 24th. The 25th and 26th are public holidays when  relatives visit each-other. Hungarians set up their Christmas tree on the 24th, and  leave it on until it lasts. The Christmas tree is decorated with real candles and szaloncukor, a type of candy. Family members light the candles and sing Christmas carols. The candles are then put out and the family dinner follows. At midnight families attend mass at Church.

Vörösmarty tér features a large Christmas tree, and there is a cheerful and cosy outside Christmas market there. Live music is often heard.