Budapest painted green for St Patrick’s Day in the Hungarian capital

Once a year, the Irish celebrate St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. This year, the parade is being organised in Budapest again, so we Hungarians can have a taste of a truly green holiday.

Patrick (385 – 461) was a 5th century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland, who died on 17 March. He was later canonised as a saint, became the patron saint of Ireland and, in his honour, was made a day of death, the national holiday of the Irish.

The Irish celebrate this day in a very spectacular way all over the world, many of us have probably seen footage of the green-clad festival. The celebrations usually consist of public parades and festivals, Irish traditional music (céilithe) and the wearing of green dresses or shamrocks.

The good news is that after a three-year hiatus, Budapest is celebrating St Patrick’s Day again. On Sunday, 19 March, from 1 PM, there will be a gathering at Szabadság Square, where little ones can play games and grown-ups can mingle with the Irish in Hungary or even drink a Guinness.

The parade will start at 3 PM from Szabadság Square towards the Hungarian Parliament. They will then return to Szabadság Square via Széchenyi rakpart- Széchenyi Square -Szent István Bazilika.

There will be plenty of entertainment on offer, as members of the Irish diaspora and friends of Ireland will be treated to Irish music and dancers, face painting, and Gaelic games. Visitors can refresh themselves with food and drink specialities.

So come along to Szabadság Square from 1 to 5 PM on Sunday, 19 March, and join the Irish community to celebrate their greatest Saint!

If you would like to learn more about Saint Patrick’s Day and how it is celebrated in Ireland, watch the interview with Ronan Gargan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Hungary and Damien O’Kane, the president of the Irish Hungarian Business Circle.

Read alsoAmbassador Ronan: the Irish community in Hungary is active, vibrant – INTERVIEW

Source: Press release