There are 11 public holidays in Hungary this year. Hungarian people prefer having prolonged weekends, therefore, if needed, extra days of rest, called bridge days, are slotted in between public holidays and weekends. To keep the number of working days the same, Hungarians must work on some Saturdays to compensate for these extra days of rest.
The working Saturdays of 2019 are:- 10 August (instead of 19 August)
- 7 December (instead of 24 December)
- 14 December (instead of 27 December)
The majority of public holidays in Hungary have a fixed date. Exceptions to this are the Easter Sunday, Monday and Pentecost. These are sliding holidays that depend on the first spring full moon.
All relocated employees, Erasmus students, expats or digital nomads should keep in mind that banks, offices, schools and most shops and businesses are closed on public holidays and days of rest.
Hereʼs more all about the Hungarian public holidays of 2019.
New Year’s Day
January 1 (Tuesday)
Shops and offices are closed.
Most people thoroughly celebrate the end of the year with fireworks, midnight toasts and often having fun till the small hours. New Yearʼs Day tends to be much more quiet. People spend time with their families, go to a concert or mass. Itʼs important to choose the right menu on 1 January because according to a Hungarian tradition, it has a great impact on your luck, health and wealth. Make sure you eat pork and lentils but avoid fish or anything with feathers because your good luck could swim or fly away.
Revolution Day
15 March (Friday)
Shops and offices are closed.
On 15 March, Hungarian citizens commemorate the Revolution that started the same day in 1848. At the time Hungary was part of the Habsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire. At first, Austria accepted Hungarian independence and a new government and prime minister was elected. However, Austria later disallowed it and war broke out between the two countries. The war ended with a Hungarian victory in August 1849. The Hungarian freedom didnʼt last long, though. The Empire invited the allied Russian army to help and Hungary was finally defeated. Several country leaders including the first Hungarian Prime Minister Lajos Batthyány were executed or fled to exile.
Hungarians are very proud of their brave ancestors and celebrate this important day of their history with many events all across the country. The main events take place in Buda Castle, the Hungarian Parliament, the Budapest History Museum or the National Gallery, and include public speeches by leading Hungarian politicians, the traditional Hussars procession, flag rising, displays, concerts and much more.
Easter Sunday and Monday
21 April (Sunday) and 22 April (Monday)
Shops and offices are closed
The date of this holiday changes every year. Easter falls on the Sunday after the first spring full moon.
These two days are public holidays in Hungary. Easter is a mixture of pagan and Christian traditions and rites. It signifies the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as a rebirth of nature after winter. People go to High Mass and often bring baskets with eggs, salt, and Easter bread so that the priest can bless them. Tree branches and flowers are also sometimes brought to be blessed. Besides the eggs and Easter bread, typical Easter foods are smoked meat, potato salad or horseradish. Egg painting has a long tradition in Hungary. Every region has its own specific pattern and technique of decorating them. On Easter Monday, men and boys go from house to house and pour water or sprinkle perfume on women and girls. This tradition comes from ancient pagan times and is to ensure women's good health and beauty. In return, boys are treated with boiled, decorated, eggs, and sweets and men with shots of spirit. You can attend many events, such as markets full of typical Easter products and decorations, crafting workshops, concerts and exhibitions, during Easter time.
Labour/May Day
1 May (Wednesday)
Shops and offices are closed.
As well as most other holidays, 1 May has pre-Christian roots and celebrates the final defeat of winter and arrival of spring. Since the 19th century, this day has also been a commemoration of the protests of the Chicago labourers and the working class in general. During the communist era, Labour Day was one of the most significant national holidays. Massive parades, public speeches and exhibitions were held all across the country. Even though some political parties still give speeches or demonstrate on this day, most people consider it more as a celebration of spring nowadays. They enjoy the beautiful weather with their family on a trip, picnic or in a zoo.
St. Stephanʼs Day
20 August (Tuesday)
17 - 20 August is a prolonged weekend in Hungary. 19 August is a day of rest. People go to work on Saturday 10 August to make up for it.
Shops and offices are closed
Hungarians observe the foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary on 20th August. Stephen I. was the first Hungarian king. He was canonised on 20th August 1083 by Pope Gregory VII. St. Stephanʼs Day is one of the most significant holidays in Hungary and is accompanied by High Masses, open-air concerts, flag raising, fireworks and much more. 20th August is also a day when people celebrate the beginning of the harvest. As a symbol, a loaf of bread is baked from the first grains of the year and there is also a bread-baking competition. Make sure you visit the Street of Hungarian Flavours in Budapest where you can taste not only the bread but a variety of other pastries and Hungarian delicacies. Traditionally, the official Cake for Hungary is also selected and sliced there so that everyone can enjoy a piece.
Pentecost
10 June (Monday)
The date of this holiday changes every year. Pentecost depends on Easter and is set seven weeks after Easter Sunday.
Shops and offices are closed
Pentecost is a Christian holiday. According to the Bible the Holy Spirit descended to apostles on this day. Special Pentecost Masses are held. Some traditions connected with this day go back to pre-Christian times. One of these traditions is to decorate your home with Jasmine or Pentecost rose branches.
Republic Day
23 October (Wednesday)Shops and offices are closed
23 October commemorates recent Hungarian history. On 23 November 1956, students demonstrated against the communist government. Gradually, more and more people spontaneously joined the demonstration and it soon became a country-wide uprising. Several protestors were killed by the state police but the revolution appeared successful and a democratic government was set-up briefly. Soviet troops came to regain control on 4 November 1956. The poorly armed revolutionists had no chance and the uprising was bloodily suppressed. Hundreds of people were killed, executed or arrested and around 180 000 people left the country the following year. The communist regime lasted until 1989. Street parades, speeches, concerts, and wreath-laying are held every year to commemorate this important period of Hungarian history. The main celebrations take place at Kossuth Square - the epicentre of the revolution, the Hungarian Museum of Military History, the House of Terror Museum, Parliament and Buda Castle.
All Saintsʼ Day
1 November (Friday)Shops and offices are closed
All Saintsʼs Day is a Christian holiday commemorating the saints and martyrs who donʼt have their own special day in the calendar. The faithful observe it by going to mass. This day and the following All Souls Day is also devoted to the memory of all the deceased. Most people go to cemeteries and lay flowers, wreaths and decorations on the graves of their beloved deceased ones. The roots of this holiday is very old and this period of the year is surrounded with many rites and customs. People sometimes lay a spare place at a table for the wandering souls and light candles in front of the house so that they can visit them.
Christmas
25 December (Wednesday) and 26 December (Thursday) 24 - 29 December is the Christmas holiday period. 25 and 26 are public holidays, 24 and 27 are days of rest. People make up for them during the two working Saturdays on 7 and 14 December.Shops and offices are closed
Christmas Eve, 24 December, is not a public holiday in Hungary but itʼs often a day of rest and people spend it with their families. The festive Christmas dinner usually consists of fish soup, cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, pork meat, garlic, onion and herbs and poppy seed cakes. A traditional Christmas pastry is gingerbread decorated with bright colored icing. After dinner the baby Jesus brings presents and lays them under the decorated Christmas tree. People often go to Midnight Mass. On 25 and 26 whole families get together, eat, drink, give each other presents and enjoy their precious time together. Hungarian public holidays are a mixture of ancient traditions reflecting on the changes of seasons, Christian ceremonies and crucial milestones of both ancient and modern state history. Different places in Hungary and especially Budapest offer a wide range of events from which to choose.
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