Month: October 2008

The Forint has experienced some serious changes in the last months. Earlier this year one Euro could be bought for 230 Euros, but in these days the value has changed to approximately 280 Euros. The dollar, which earlier could be bought for around 150 forints, can now be bought for 200 forints.

Because of this, your money (Euro, Dollar) as a tourist will be more worth in Budapest in these days. For how long the Forint will be as weak as now is not possible to tell.

Even though it is so, some changing shops are still charging a lot as you change your money, so be sure to check that the difference between what they are selling and buying your currency for is not to big. For example: It they sell Euro for 285 Forints, they should sell Forints for 270 Forints. If the difference is like this, it is okay, but if it is bigger, you should look for another place. If you are lucky, you will find better places as well!

Currency and money in Budapest

The three big national days in Hungary every year are 15 March, 20 August and 23 October. The 23 October is the day when Hungarians remember the spontaneous revolt against the communist government in Hungary in 1956. It started peacefully with a big student demonstration, but as the State Security Police (communist) started firing upon the demonstrators it turned into a violent revolution. After some days it seemed as if the Hungarians had won, but it all turned worse as a large Soviet Force entered the nation 4 November and overrun the Hungarian forces. More than 2500 Hungarians died during the battles, and more than 200.000 had to flee the country.

A sign of the revolution was the Hungarian flag, from which they cut out the Soviet symbol, and because of that a big hole was in the middle of the flag.

Today
During the national day most shops are closed in Budapest, but museums, thermal baths, zoo and so are open. Restaurants are open as well, but it is recommended to reserve a table beforehand, as several people eat outside on days such as this.

October 6. 1849 was a date still to be remembered and commemorated in Hungary. On that day 13 of the generals from the 1848-1849 revolution in Hungary against the Habsburgs were executed in Arad (in Romania today). At the same day Count Lajos Batthyány was executed as well, the first Hungarian Prime Minister. Today a square near the Liberty Square has an “eternal light” named after him (located at the placed where Count Lajos Batthyány was killed).

The famous Lajos Kossuth (whose statue can be seen at for example the Heroes Square and outside the Parliament) managed to escape to USA before they caught him as well.

It is said that after executing the 13 generals in Arad the Austrian generals clinked their beer mugs together celebrating and making fun of the Hungarians. Because of that a “promise” was made that the Hungarians would not clink their beer mugs for 150 years. Those years have passed away, but the people still don’t clink their mugs in Budapest or in Hungary.

It must be said that most historians claim this to be just a legend, and that written records do not support this theory!

History of Hungary

The 13 Martyrs of Arad