In accordance with tradition, a three-day series of programmes will be held for the 20 August national holiday that marks the foundation of the state, with the slogan: “Happy Birthday, Hungary!”, The Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister’s State Secretary for International Communication and Relations Zoltán Kovács said at a press conference in Budapest on Wednesday.

Mr. Kovács said Hungarians are celebrating a state that has been at the heart of Europe for over a thousand years, and which is not only protecting its own identity and culture, but also the culture, borders and identity of Europe.

With relation to the Tuesday national holiday, the State Secretary said events would already begin on Sunday. The “Street of Hungarian Flavours” will be awaiting guests at the Castle Garden Bazaar, with family programmes during the day and concerts in the evenings.

On 20 August, the day will begin in the morning according to military and state tradition with the hoisting of the national flag and the swearing in of 130 freshly graduated army officers, with speeches given by President of the Republic János Áder and Minister of Defence Tibor Benkő. This will be followed by an air and naval show performed by the Hungarian Defence Force, at which the military’s newly acquired equipment will also be making its debut, the State Secretary told the press.

Events will continue on the banks of the Danube throughout the day, with the traditional firework display beginning at 9 p.m., with relation to which Mr. Kovács said that the firework launch locations had been placed further south compared to last year.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)