August 20 – President Áder: Hungary must stick to ‘St Stephen’s Western culture’

Hungary must insist on “the Western culture King Saint Stephen tied our future to”, President János Áder said in his address marking Hungary’s August 20 national holiday on Monday.

Speaking at the oath taking ceremony of young military officers, President of Hungary quoted author Sándor Márai 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”.

Addressing the young officers, Áder 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 civilisation”.

Hungary has been strong and could “withstand the storms of history” while other, greater nations have disappeared, Áder said. Saint Stephen was confident that history could be shaped, and he “collected friends and strived for peace while other rulers gathered enemies”, the president added.

St. Stephen’s legacy has helped build an “independent, free and European country, which many have attempted to capture but it has been saved through the faith, work and insistence of those that did not bend in the storm of times,” Áder said.

“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,” the president concluded his speech.

The 20th of August might as well be the most significant national holiday of Hungary with festivals, celebrations and fireworks everywhere. But what is it really about? Read a quick recap of the must-know facts about the background of and traditions connected to St. Stephen’s day. Read more HERE.

Source: MTI