Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, and today I learned all about Hungarian Christmas traditions while exploring the festive streets of Budapest! My new friend Kata gave us a magical walking tour that included Nativity scenes, Christmas markets, and even stories about Saint Nicholas and holiday folklore. Let’s jump in!
Traditional Hungarian Food
Before our tour and based on a recommendation from Julia, we went back to the Jewish Quarter for some traditional Hungarian Food at the Getto Gulyas.
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| Cabbage Rolls |
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| Gulash |
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| Getto Guylas |
Starting at the Franciscan Church
We began our adventure at the Franciscan Church in Ferenciek tere, one of Budapest’s oldest squares. Inside, Kata showed us the Nativity scene, and guess what? The baby Jesus isn’t placed in the manger until Christmas Eve! In older times, families would add one piece to the Nativity each day of Advent to build excitement.
Kata also taught me how to spot St. Nicholas in art. He always carries a bishop’s staff, so you can tell him apart from Santa Claus. Neat, huh?
Budapest’s Oldest Church
Next, we visited the Inner-City Mother Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, the oldest church in Budapest. Kata told us all about its history:
- It started way back in Roman times—you can still see parts of the original structure!
- During the Ottoman era, it was turned into a mosque.
- Later, it became a Catholic church again, connected to King Stephen, Hungary’s first king.
- The church was almost destroyed when they built the Elizabeth Bridge, but a monk saved it just in time!
I couldn’t believe how much history was packed into one building.
The Christmas Market at Vörösmarty tér
Next, we wandered through the Christmas Market at Vörösmarty tér, Budapest’s most famous market. It was full of colorful stalls selling handmade gifts and holiday treats. Kata pointed out some of the cool crafts, like:
- Corn husk dolls: Cute little figurines made from corn husks.
- Straw ornaments: These simple decorations are perfect for Christmas trees.
- Walnut ornaments: Hung on trees for good luck.
- Szaloncukor candy: This Hungarian treat is wrapped in shiny foil and hung on Christmas trees. Kids love sneaking pieces off the tree before Christmas!
The market smelled amazing, with scents of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine filling the air.
St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Light Show
We walked to St. Stephen’s Basilica, which was glowing with Christmas lights. Outside, we watched a light show projected onto the church’s walls. It was like a holiday movie in real life!
Nearby, we saw more Nativity scenes, and Kata told us about Hungary’s shepherd’s nativity plays. These traditional plays mix storytelling and music, and they’re still performed in some villages during Advent.
Philanthia Christmas Store
Kata took us to Philanthia, a magical Christmas store inside an old flower shop. It was filled with handmade Hungarian crafts, like ornaments, ceramics, and decorations. Everything was so detailed and beautiful—I didn’t want to leave!
Holiday Traditions and Hanukkah
Kata shared lots of Hungarian holiday stories, including:
- Mikulás (St. Nicholas): On December 6th, kids polish their boots and leave them out to get candy from Mikulás (or coal from the mischievous Krampusz!).
- Luca Day (Saint Lucia’s Day): Celebrated on December 13th, Luca Day involves old superstitions about Luca witches and traditions like carving a special chair called a “Luca Chair.”
- Hanukkah: In the Jewish Quarter, Kata told us about Hanukkah traditions like lighting the menorah, playing dreidel games, and eating yummy fried foods like latkes and doughnuts.
More Christmas Markets and Lights
Our final stop was another artisan Christmas market near St. Stephen’s Basilica. The stalls were full of handmade gifts, and Kata showed us the Advent wreaths displayed around the city. Each candle on the wreath has a special meaning: hope, peace, joy, and love.
As we strolled back through Budapest’s glowing streets, the Christmas lights made everything feel magical.
What I Learned Today
- What’s a Nativity Scene?
A Nativity scene shows the story of Jesus’s birth. In Hungary, baby Jesus isn’t placed in the scene until Christmas Eve! - What is Szaloncukor?
Szaloncukor is a Hungarian candy that people hang on their Christmas trees. It’s wrapped in shiny foil, and kids love sneaking pieces to eat! - Who is St. Nicholas?
St. Nicholas is like Santa Claus, but he’s often shown holding a bishop’s staff. He visits children on December 6th, leaving candy or coal in their polished boots.
I had so much fun learning about Hungary’s Christmas traditions and seeing all the beautiful lights and markets in Budapest. What do you think, kids? Would you like to visit a Christmas market or hang Szaloncukor on your tree? Let me know!
This blog post was created collaboratively with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, to help tell my story
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