August 20: State Foundation Day in Hungary
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Hungary.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Hungary is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. The English name “Hungary” comes from the Latin word Hungaria. The ethnic majority of Hungarians refer to themselves and to their language as “Magyar.”
Stephen I (c. 975-1038) is honored as the founder of the Kingdom of Hungary. He promoted the spread of Christianity in his kingdom. Stephen’s feast day is August 20, which Hungary celebrates as State Foundation Day.
Mongols invaded Hungary in 1241. They devastated the country, and half of the population either died or left. The last of Stephen’s descendants died in 1301. Foreigners ruled Hungary from 1308 with only two brief exceptions.
Between 1867 and 1918, the countries Austria and Hungary shared the same monarch while maintaining separate governments. This entity dissolved after World War I. Hungary lost a large portion of its territory in treaties made after the war.
Hungary came under the influence of the Soviet Union after World War II. On the national flag, Soviet emblems replaced the crown of St. Stephen. The Soviets crushed an attempted uprising by Hungarians in 1956.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Hungary became a parliamentary republic. It has a population of almost 10 million, including a sizeable Romani minority. About 30% are Roman Catholic and 13% belong to another Christian denomination.
The Holy Crown of St. Stephen is the symbol of Hungary and remains an object of Hungarian pride. During World War II, the Hungarian army entrusted the crown to American soldiers so that it would not fall into German or Russian hands. The U.S. stored the crown at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, until 1978. President Jimmy Carter decided to return the crown to Hungary. Hungary was still a Communist nation at the time, but it had shown progress in protecting human rights and Carter wanted to recognize this. The return of the crown was a step that helped pull Hungary toward the West and away from the Soviet Union. The crown is shown here on display with other royal regalia at the Hungarian Parliament building in 2017. Though the current flag of Hungary is a simple tricolor flag with stripes of red, white, and green, the crown of St. Stephen is part of the country’s coat of arms.
Learn More
This video features a drone and fireworks show in Budapest, Hungary, on August 20, 2018.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
