Hungary public holidays - 15th of March celebrating the 1848 revolution in Hungary

The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many revolutions that year and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas. The revolution in Hungary grew into a war for independence from Habsburg rule.

Many of its leaders and participants, including Lajos Kossuth, István Széchenyi, Sándor Petőfi, Józef Bem, are among the most respected national figures in Hungarian History, and the anniversary of the revolution's outbreak, March 15 is one of Hungary's three national holidays.

The revolution started on March 15, 1848, with bloodless events in Pest and Buda (mass demonstrations forcing the imperial governor to accept all demands) followed by various insurrections throughout the kingdom, which enabled Hungarian reformists to declare Hungary's autonomy within the Habsburg Empire, under the governor Lajos Kossuth and the first Prime minister Lajos Batthyány. The new government approved a sweeping reform package, referred to as the "March Laws", that essentially created an autonomous national kingdom of Hungary with the Habsburg Emperor as its king. They also demanded that the Hungarian government receive and expend all taxes raised in Hungary and have authority over Hungarian regiments in the Habsburg army.

Hungarian hussar

Aware that they were on the path to civil war in the summer of 1848, the Hungarian government ministers attempted to gain Habsburg support against Conservative Josip Jelačić of Croatia-Slavonia by offering to send troops to northern Italy. By the end of August, the imperial government in Vienna officially ordered the Hungarian government in Pest to end plans for a Hungarian army. Jelačić then took military action against the Hungarian government without any official order.

With war raging on three fronts (against the Croats, in the Banat, and in Transylvania), Hungarian radicals in Pest saw this as an opportunity. Parliament made concessions to the radicals in September rather than let the events erupt into violent confrontations. Faced with revolution at home in Vienna too, Austria first accepted Hungary's autonomy. However, after the Austrian revolution was beaten down, and Franz Joseph replaced his mentally retarded uncle Ferdinand I as Emperor, Austria again refused to accept Hungarian autonomy. The final break between Vienna and Pest occurred when Field Marshall Count Lamberg was given control of all armies in Hungary (including Jelačić's). In response to Lamberg being attacked on arrival in Hungary a few days later, the imperial court ordered the Hungarian parliament and government dissolved. Jelačić was appointed to take Lamberg's place. War between Austria and Hungary had officially begun. (source: wikipedia)

Hungarian Hussar

-
Hungary public holidays

UPCOMING Events in Budapest Arena

2010. March - BUDAPEST ARENA

2010. 03. 14. GHYMES: Szerelmes Szabadság

2010. 03. 15. Republic Concert


2010. 03. 16. Rammstein Tour


2010. 03. 23. Harlem Globetrotters

The program of MÜPA (Palace of Arts - Budapest)

Beethoven and the Ninth Symphony
Photographic exhibition from the Bonn Beethoven House

The Bonn Beethoven House is a research centre dealing with the composer’s life and work and houses the world’s most comprehensive Beethoven collection, while large scale reproductions help educate about the composer’s life. The exhibition places particular focus on Beethoven’s period in Bonn which exerted a decisive influence on him as he grew up: his father and teachers were members of the local orchestra, Archduke Maximillian Franz, archduke-elector of Cologne was one of his first patrons and Beethoven also became an orchestral member. It was in Bonn that he first met with his subsequent teacher in Vienna, Joseph Haydn.

One of Beethoven’s most important and best known works is the Ninth Symphony with its famous last movement setting of Schiller’s Ode to Joy. The exhibition presents the origins of the work and displays documents of its world premiere.

(source: The Palace of Arts)

Statue of Franz Liszt

The statue of Ferenc Liszt is located on the square that was named after him.

Franz Liszt (October 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist and teacher. He was also the father-in-law of Richard Wagner.

Liszt became renowned throughout Europe during the 19th century for his great skill as a performer. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age and perhaps the greatest pianist of all time. He was also an important and influential composer, a notable piano teacher, a conductor who contributed significantly to the modern development of the art, and a benefactor to other composers and performers, notably Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, Camille Saint-Saëns, Edvard Grieg and Alexander Borodin. (source: wikipedia)