Attention! The main spectacle of the August 20 festivities postponed

The operative board called off the fireworks today because of the poor weather conditions. The good news is that the fireworks are not cancelled since they will be held a week later, on 27 August. The venue remains unchanged: Budapest.

Fireworks postponed to 27 August

The announcement of the Government Information Centre (KTK) says that given the current weather forecasts, holding the fireworks today is no longer safe. The operative body in charge of the national holiday had their latest sitting today at noon. There they decided to call off the magnificent fireworks celebrating the birth of the Hungarian Christian state. Interestingly, they already did so yesterday with today morning’s military air show over the Danube.

The original date of the event was today 9 PM. But it was postponed to 27 August, 9 PM due to the poor weather. Zoltán Kovács, the government’s spokesman, said before that it would be more expensive to cancel the fireworks than to hold them.

Read also: VIDEO, PHOTOS: August 20 festivities started, national flag hoisted

Here is a video of the 2021 fireworks in 4K:

Opposition wanted to cancel it

That is because some opposition leaders and mayors suggested the government could spend those HUF billions on easing the severe consequences of inflation, the energy crisis, economic problems and the war. Gergely Karácsony, the opposition mayor of Budapest, said he would cancel the fireworks in Budapest. However, it is not in his power to make such a decision.

Read also: Browse the best festive programmes in Budapest for 20 August!

Furthermore, the operative body suggested the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Esztergom–Budapest organize their 20 August mass inside the basilica instead of St Stephen Square. The religious event starts at 5 PM today. Moreover, they would like the archdiocese to cancel the procession. Instead, they suggested holding a musical prayer in front of the Holy Right Hand of St Stephen displayed today in the church.

Old tradition

The operative board said it would decide about the different programmes in Budapest based on the opinion of the local organizers.

The 20 August fireworks have a decade-long tradition in Hungary, dating back to the 1920s.

Interestingly, agriculture workers would like to have a demonstration today in Budapest. Bálint Szabó, the protest’s main organizer, said they would only come to Budapest after the operative board decided about the fireworks. However, despite their decision, it is still forbidden for them to swarm the capital today thanks to a previous police decision, hvg.hu reported.

Read alsoThe history of fireworks in Hungary

Source: 24.hu

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2 Comments

Anonymous says:

20/08/2022 at 16:26

How very Germanic (at least in the 1930’s and early 1940’s). ACHTUNG! ATTENTION! I half expected to see ‘you vill obey zeese orders!’. The germans can’t pronounce the double u (w) or th in English either.
Disheartened : says:

20/08/2022 at 16:55

When the elements are against you, what really can you do.
Sadly, it has turned into quite a Calamitous situation.
The ramifications from the cancelling and postponing of National Day events, will “bite hard” – a vast number of pockets, that financially had seen the opportunity, to put a “little butter” on their bread.
Decision to “roll over” – the Fireworks “extravaganza” – for another (7) seven days – that economically its a SAVING cost factor – this decision – rather than a complete cancellation of the Fireworks display.

In the making of these decisions – those responsible in making them, do they – BELIEVE – that on the 27th August 2022 – the population “swell” we know occurs in Budapest, Hungary – through visitors, tourists and Hungarians and their Families especially the “little ones” – coming to our National Capital for the Fesivities and the Fireworks “extravaganza” – do they BELIEVE – numbers of people, will be as planed for the 20th August 2022 celebrations & festivities ???
My answer to this question is – if we proceed as the “new” arrangement, numbers of visitors in Budapest, will be substantially LOWER, than planed – that we would have had, on the 20th August 2022.
Why even are the weather gods ANGRY at Hungary.
Stall holders – Food Providers – the list is quite endless, set up under the belief of weather conditions that favour ALL for a joyous – St.Stephen – National Day & evening Celebration, just turned into a Calamitous disaster.
My heart bleeds – for us Hungary and those who again will have their “pockets” hurt – by these tragic chain of events, in the “forced” cancellation, of Major – St.Stephen- National Day events.