Hungarian mythical animals and what they symbolise

Before turning to Christianity, the Hungarian nation had beliefs about mythical creatures and how the world worked. Although much of Hungarian mythology is lost, some sources feature mythical and legendary animals. Here are the most well-known mythical animals from Hungarian culture and what they symbolise.

The Wonder Stag

It is possible that the conquering Hungarians brought with them the eastern variation of the miraculous deer legend. Later, this legend was mixed with the Christian Hubertus legend. According to the Gesta Hungarorum, the Wonder Stag showed an area perfect for settlement to Hunor and Magor, from whom Hungarians originate. However, other versions of the story were born in some regions of Hungary.

According to one of them, the Wonder Stag has a thousand antlers and a thousand burning candles on the tips of them. Another version of the legend says that the Wonder Stag has the rising bright sun on its forehead, the moon on its side, and the stars on its right kidney. The miraculous stag has been symbolic to many Eurasian people and some North American Indian tribes. It symbolises the starry sky.

Turul

The Turul is one of the most popular national symbols of Hungarians. It is a mythological bird, and its appearance is close to that of a falcon. According to the Gesta Hungarorum, the Turul showed a vision to Emese in her dream, where she was pregnant. The Turul also played a prominent role in the legend of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin.

The Turul protected and showed the way to Hungarians who set out to look for Attila’s land. During the reigns of Álmos and Árpád, the Turul symbolised the defence of the homeland. Thus, it was a popular symbol in the Second World War as well. It was often chosen as a decorative element of monuments to the fallen ones in the war. It is the symbol of commitment and nation.