20 August is one of the most important national holidays in Hungary. It is celebrated with daylong festivities followed by fireworks throughout the country.
20 August commemorates the foundation of the Hungarian state. It is also called “St Stephen’s Day”, remembering Stephen I, the first king of Hungary and founder of the Kingdom of Hungary. He was the one who led the country into the Christian church and established the institutions of the kingdom and the church.
The holiday of the Foundation of the State is also known as “the day of the new bread”. On this day bread is traditionally cut to celebrate the new harvest of the year.
