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An impressive spectacle crowned this year’s St. Stephen’s Day celebrations in Budapest. A fireworks show of unprecedented complexity was put on, the only one of its kind in Europe.
The fireworks show with the Budapest Eye Ferris wheel and St. Stephen’s Basilica in the background. Photo via MTI/Balogh Zoltán
34,000 pyrotechnic effects lit up the sky from 230 launch points, including the Liberty and Elizabeth bridges, seven river barges, and numerous other points.
Photo via MTI/Lakatos Péter
A spectacular element of the Fire and Lights Game was the drone show, in which a total of 896 unmanned aerial vehicles formed shapes from symbols of Hungarian history. Once again, the festive fire and light show brought to life the fateful historical events of the Hungarian nation.
The Holy Crown of Hungary. Photo via Facebook/Csodálatos Magyarország
The drone show was synchronized over the Parliament and the Petőfi Bridge, giving visitors an excellent view of the show from many parts of Budapest.
The turul bird, the Hungarian mythological bird. Photo via szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu
Through the play of fireworks and lights, the fateful historical events and genesis of the Hungarian nation were brought to life.
Photo via Facebook/Magyarország Kormánya
The seven movements of the fireworks show, with musical accompaniment and narration, recalled the birth of the nation, the story of the blood ties and the conquest of Hungary, the era of Christian-Pagan wars, and the faith and hope that have defined the past and present of Hungary.
The Parliament in light painting. Photo via Facebook/Magyarország Kormánya
The success of the St. Stephen’s Day Fireworks is recognized by the international events industry, as evidenced by the fact that the 2022 show won the event industry’s ‘Oscar.’
The Rákóczi Bridge during the fireworks. Photo MTI/Illyés Tibor
Since 1991, August 20th has been celebrated as the day of the founding of the state and St. Stephen’s Day.
Photo via Facebook/Csodálatos Magyarország
You can watch the full fireworks show here:
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted about the national holiday on his social media, saying “Happy Birthday Hungary.”
Agriculture Minister István Nagy praised the fireworks show on his Facebook page, writing that “the display was more impressive than ever.”
On the morning of August 20, the national celebrations began with a flag-raising and the passing of the oath of allegiance ceremony in front of the Parliament on Kossuth Square. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defense, and Gábor Böröndi, Chief of the Defense Staff, gave speeches during the celebration.
The procession of the oath-takers. Photo via MTI/Máthé Zoltán
Photo via MTI/Máthé Zoltán
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky during his speech. Photo via MTI/Máthé Zoltán
Another very important moment of the national celebration after the Holy Mass is the procession of the Holy Right, in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica at Széchenyi Square.
Members of the Honvéd Koronaőrség (Honvéd Crown Guard) carry the oracle of the Holy Right. Photo via MTI/Hegedüs Róbert
The first “tour” of the Holy Right in Hungary began in 1771, when it was brought home from Raguza (Dubrovnik).
Since 1990, one of the most important events in Budapest, the St. Stephen’s Day procession now traditionally begins in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica, with the relic of King Stephen’s right hand in front and thousands of Christian believers behind it.
Featured Photo via Facebook/Magyarország Kormánya