Christmas in Hungary

Located in Central Europe, Hungary offers an amalgamation of plains, mountains, lakes and even rivers. With its quaint villages, posh towns and easily accessible location, this country is worth visiting. During Christmas time Hungary is in a different glory altogether, with its unique traditions and elaborate decorations. The holiday spirit or the Christmas spirit, which ever way you like to put it, it a must experience if you are in this country!

Christmas traditions

Hungarian Christmas traditions have their own unique touch that is diverse from the usual western traditions.

• Advent marks the beginning of Christmas in Hungary and preparations for Christmas take place in full swing. Decorations of Advent wreaths can be seen all over the place: schools, homes, offices and more. Queerly decorations are limited to the interior decor and are unlike in America not displayed so much out on the streets
• Unlike in the West children do not participate in decorating the Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve the children are generally sent out of the house while the elders deck up the Christmas tree. The children are allowed to see the Christmas tree only when a certain bell is rung and then they are go into the living room where the Christmas tree stands all lit up!
• The Christmas feast usually consists of fish, lentil soup and a dish made out of crushed poppy seeds called poppy seed strudel
• Hungarian children do not follow the well known tradition of hanging stockings for Santa. Instead, the children polish their best boots and leave it for ‘Mikol`as’ or Santa to fill it up with sweets and other goodies
• Another interesting custom followed in Hungary during Christmas is an activity similar to Halloween in the West. Children dress up as the Holy family and go from door to door narrating the legend of Christmas either as a song or as an act. They are rewarded with gifts or money
• Christmas for Hungarians is strictly a family affair. People do not party out, instead this is the time when family members living in other cities or countries come together to celebrate the most important holiday of the season.

Christmas time is one wonderful season in Hungary. This is the time to meet our loved ones and spend some quality time with them amidst our busy lives. Exchanging gifts, elaborate dinners, singing, dancing, are some of the major highlights during this holiday season. This is one time of the year that both adults and children look forward to with equal enthusiasm.