When is hungarys christmas

If you'll be traveling to Budapest during December , you certainly won't want to skip the Christmas Fair and Winter Festival, which kicks off early in the month. Here, you'll be able to pick up unique and cultural gifts for everyone in your extended family and, while you're at it, sample the seasonal Hungarian foods : cabbage rolls, beigli a poppy seed roll , chimney cake, mulled wine, and more.

Wherever you end up in this small-yet-charismatic country during the holiday season, you'll want to be familiar with the local traditions. Learn what to expect on your Christmas vacation in Hungary. December 13 marks Luca Day, a celebration of the winter solstice the longest night of the year. This holiday, only 12 days before Christmas, acts as the real starting point of holiday celebrations throughout Hungary. Locals will spend the remainder of those 12 days practicing folky traditions that are meant to ward off evil.

In the U. The day before Christmas is when Hungarians decorate their Christmas tree, have their feasts, and attend midnight mass. Christmas Day is for visiting family and Boxing Day, the day following Christmas, is also a public holiday that calls for more family time and relaxation. If you're planning a holiday meal out, it would be wise to make reservations through your hotel.

A traditional entree at a Hungarian Christmas meal is typically either fish soup, chicken, or pork. Side dishes often include stuffed cabbage, poppy seed rolls, and other pastries that finish off the meal.

For dessert, Hungarians' favorite candy, szaloncukor fondant dipped in chocolate—you'll probably see it decorating their Christmas trees, too , is in plentiful supply. As a reminder to be good, some will receive switches or branches from trees in their shoes alongside the other small gifts.

While traditionally the core family, children, parents and grandparents spend the Christmas day together, visiting the extended part of the family is also an indispensable part of the holiday season. Aunts, uncles and friends with all their children generally get together on 25 and 26 December to celebrate and share the Christmas spirit. The traditions of Santa Claus are different in Europe and the overseas countries. While St. Nicholas also visits the children in Hungary, he arrives on 6 December and not during the Christmas period by the end of December.

We hope this brief summary on the most important Hungarian Christmas traditions inspired you to try some while you study in Hungary. We wish you a merry holiday season and a happy new year and see you in ! Links and sources: Whychristmas. December 23, Christmas Day Unlike other countries around the world, the most important day of Christmas in Hungary is 24 December. Christmas tree For the most part, the idea of the Christmas Tree is the same in Hungary as it is in any other countries, but with one unique twist.

Giving presents As mentioned before, present giving happens generally in the evening when the tree is ready. Visiting the family While traditionally the core family, children, parents and grandparents spend the Christmas day together, visiting the extended part of the family is also an indispensable part of the holiday season. Tags alumni 32 career 23 culture 45 education 67 fairs 40 fun 21 innovation 20 scholarship news 22 student life 39 tradition 15 travel 7 university news 45 university portraits 14 your stories News archive November 3.

October 7. September 9. August 8. July 9. June May April March February 7. January 8. December All concerts, performances and the ice rink are free. An event that introduces visitors to the roots of Christmas in Antiquity. Saturn is the god of agriculture and time in Roman mythology.

The ancient celebrations devoted to him were the predecessors of Christmas in Christian traditions. The program includes: interactive guiding in the museum garden, ancient feast, tasting Roman honey cake and herbal tea, talking about the ancient roots of Christmas traditions, making ornaments evoking ancient motifs galanty show and puppet making for kids Where to Stay During Christmas?

The city has ample hotels, apartments and hostels in all price categories. The Pest side of the Danube boasts a good number of high-end hotels. M ost are part of large international hotel chains Four Seasons, Sofitel, Marriott, InterContinental — offering panoramic views of the Buda side and the river. The list includes most 5-star riverside hotels as well as less costly options located within walking distance of the square.

Shops close around early afternoon on 24th December and open only on 27th December. Some larger shopping malls might stay open until early evening on 24th December. Life gets back to normal after 1st January. Restaurants are also closed on Christmas Eve 24th December , but some of them are open on 25thth December.

All baths exc. Find out more about the Thermal Baths of Budapest. Public transport vehicles run until around After On 25th — 26th December vehicles run according to holiday schedule. Between 27th and 1st January services run less frequently than they do on usual weekdays.

Budapest trams will turn into charming Christmas vehicles on 13 lines, twinkling with thousands of tiny LED lights. The special holiday services operate between December January See the departure times of the Christmas Trams here. View our photos of Christmas Tram 2. Family members get together in the afternoon on 24th December, and decorate the Christmas tree.