Hungary celebrated its August 20th annual holiday in style yesterday with celebrations up and down the country.
A spectacular fireworks display entertained the crowds along the banks of the river Danube and cultural events throughout the city and other major hotspots across Hungary put on a magnificent show.
President János Áder gave a rousing speech and said that “Hungary could only survive in a new Europe with quality in the focus; we are not in a position to be mediocre”.
The president said that “St. Stephen gave us a Hungarian heart and European conscience” and added that the 11th century king had been “aware that peace is conditional on preserving Western civilization”.
He added that Hungary has been strong and could “withstand the storms of history” while other, greater nations have disappeared.
President Áder said Saint Stephen was confident that history could be shaped, and he “collected friends and strived for peace while other rulers gathered enemies”.
“This land has been ours for a thousand years and will stay our shared homeland as long as there are people in the heart of Europe that feel and understand the slogan: Homeland before all else,” he concluded.