Hunglish.orgHow is Valentine's Day celebrated in Hungary? Is Valentine's Day celebrated in Hungary, if so, what's it called and how is it celebrated differently than in the states? Find out your answerers to these and more questions on Valentine's Day in Hungary.
What is Bálint Nap?
Okay, take a wild guess; it’s a day that is celebrated around the world each day on February the 14th where hearts, roses and chocolate come out in full bloom. That’s right, Valentine’s Day, otherwise known in Hungary as ‘Bálint Nap’ or ‘Valentin’Day.
Origins of ‘Bálint Nap’ in Hungary
Certain folklore suggests from the ethnology of Hungarians that it is a good day to have geese, ducks, chickens, etc. to sit on their eggs. In certain places, like the village of Szil, people believe that Valentine is the patron saint of sparrows as this is around the time when the weather improves and sparrows begin to mate. Valentine’s Day in Hungary, as well as in many other places, most likely centers around ‘romantic’ love as it stems from ancient Greece and once revolved around the spring season. In Grecian times, Greeks celebrated their goddess Juno on February the 14th, the sanctifier of weddings. Juno is often depicted with a granite apple in one hand to represent fertility and a king’s scepter in the other hand in which a cuckoo bird is perched to symbolize the coming of spring. The Romans held a similar celebration on February the 14th called Lupercalia. It was a time to welcome spring and honor fertility and cleansing.
From the perspective of Christian history, the word Valentine refers to the names of two past historical figures, a Roman martyr and the Bishop of Passau. In Hungary the name ‘Bálint’ is also used as a first and a family name. In 1522, according to ecclesiastical records, it was the most popular name of the times. It is a name that is still popular in Hungary today.
Modern Day Valentine’s Day in Hungary
‘Valentin’ Day or ‘Bálint Nap’ started to be celebrated as a holiday after 1989 when Ági Guba, the director of the Hungarian Professional Florists’ Association decided to bring the tradition to Hungary as more of a commercialized effort than a holiday steeped in past traditions. Women’s Day is still more prominent in Hungary than Valentine’s Day and is a time when employers give flowers to their female employees. The custom was started under socialism and involves the gift giving, specifically of a snow-colored flower.
Valentine Gifts in Hungary
In Hungary it is generally only young married couples and young lovers who exchange gifts on this day while in America there is a card for just about every love connection from couples to grandparents to their grandchildren. Hungarian cards say a few things differently than what Americans will find in Hallmark shops. Typical Hungarian cards for Valentine’s Day say things like: “To the world’s most adorable blue-eyed real man” to “Your little sex mouse.” Other expressions are “Send word to the country hag that I love her” or “I wish my pocket piggy a joyous future from his ever-loving pocket kitty.”
Common symbols of Valentine’s Day in Hungary
Of course, include the heart, the cupid with his bow and arrow, ribbons and lace, roses and doves. These symbols have been around for centuries and cross continents from America to Hungary. The heart thought of as the seat of emotion will be found on Valentine cards and other paper decorations. Cupids are actually from Roman mythology and the word ‘cupid’ in Latin means ‘desire’ and the two hearts often seen pierced by an arrow is the effect of love on the heart. For the Romans, Cupid was the god of love, depicted as a young child with wings, lute, flowers and with a bow and arrows. Ribbons and lace come from the days of chivalry with knights and ladies who often dropped their handkerchiefs in an attempt to draw a suitor into picking it up for them. Roses, the red roses, of course, are symbolic for the deepest of all emotional desire and love. Other colors like white roses symbolize innocence and purity. Doves are often chosen as a Valentine symbol as doves mate for life and ultimately symbolize chastity and loyalty.
Things to do in Hungary for Valentine’s Day
Although not as popularized in Hungary as in the states, expats living in Budapest will still be able to find a great many things to do in Hungary for Valentine’s Day. In Hungary expats will find flower shops and restaurants getting out their big guns for the upcoming day. More likely than not, expats will find shops and stores decorated with red and pink cut outs and dollies all the same. Valentine’s Day is a day commemorating lovers and on February 14th many couples will be out dining or doing activities like ice skating at Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park to getting pampered at a local spa like at the Széchenyi thermal bath house. Fine dining restaurants will be in full form from Hungarian to French cuisine and of those foods, the expat may look for particular foods typical in Hungary like: honey, sprinkled salmon, salmon caviar served with butter fried prawns, veal medallions stuffed with fillet of hare, sautéed spinach leaves with sweet potato, black olive and celery puree, chunky beef tenderloin served with basil flavored blue cheese mustard sauce, fried vegetables and pasta, ginger marinated fillet of duck breast with pear-chardonnay sauce, rice roulade and potato dumplings, lobster medallions coated in herbs and roasted with Mozzarella.
Recommended Restaurants for Valentine’s Dinner
A few restaurants to consider for a nice dining experience in Budapest for a romantic Valentine’s meal might be one of two fine French restaurants: Le Bourbon at Le Meridien hotel or Chez Daniel. Two of the best Italian restaurants to choose from are: Fausto’s and Pomodoro the or if you are looking for something more elegant and formal: Gresham Kávéház at the Four Seasons Hotel or for the perfect steak dinner go to Pampas Argentine Steakhouse.
Written by Natalie Jaro