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Debrecen celebrates Hungarian Culture Day with a week-long series of events

Jan 17, 2025 | Heritage & Must-see

Debrecen commemorates Hungarian Culture Day on January 22 with numerous festive programs, highlighting the rich heritage, traditions, and tangible and intangible values of Hungarian culture.

Mayor László Papp, Deputy Mayor István Puskás, and leader of the 75-year-old Debrecen Folk Ensemble Vilmos Hercz announced the programs at a press conference on January 16, 2025.

“Debrecen has played a key role in nurturing Hungarian culture and identity both in the past and present. The people of Debrecen have much to be proud of regarding Hungarian culture. I can confidently say that Debrecen was a defining and resource-generating force in Hungarian culture in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries,” Mayor László Papp said. He added that although Hungarian Culture Day primarily focuses on January 22, the day the Hymn was finalized, Debrecen will honour Hungarian culture with a complete series of events from January 16 to 24.

The mayor recalled that looking back at the teachers and students of the Reformed College, there is much to be proud of. “Kölcsey, Kazinczy, Csokonai, Professor Hatvani, Mihály Fazekas, János Arany, Zsigmond Móricz, Lőrinc Szabó, Árpád Tóth, Magda Szabó, and Ferenc Medgyessy were all great representatives of Debrecen’s culture who had a significant impact on the nation’s culture, literature, and arts.

The mayor pointed out that almost all significant units belonging to Debrecen’s cultural institutional system have been renewed in the past five to ten years. Among others, the headquarters of the Debrecen Folk Ensemble, donated by the city, has been beautified, and significant cultural institutions like the renovation of the Csokonai National Theatre building and the completion of the Csokonai Forum were mentioned.

“The Csokonai Theatre and the Csokonai Fórum building have become worthy of the achievements Debrecen has contributed to the nation’s culture in recent years. Naturally, facilities that generate cultural resources, such as the 2019 Kodály Music High School renovation, fit well into this line. Still, we have not forgotten about institutions that are more deeply embedded in the city’s social life and can serve culture as community houses. We have renovated community houses in many parts of the city,” he highlighted.

He noted that Hungarian Culture Day 2025 will fundamentally be about unity and community building so that the city will be present not only in Debrecen but also beyond the borders. On January 22, the Kodály Philharmonic will give a concert in Oradea. Simultaneously, celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Debrecen Folk Ensemble will enchant the audience with a spectacular evening at the Csokonai Theatre. He added that 2025 is a year of anniversaries, as we celebrate the jubilees of many individuals connected to Hungarian literature and arts. Jókai was born 200 years ago, Lőrinc Szabó 125 years ago, and architect József Borsos 150 years ago, while Professor András Görömbei would be 80 this year.

The mayor announced that cross-border relations will extend beyond Partium, as Debrecen will establish a sister city relationship with Marosvásárhely, a central town in Transylvania, at their request.

Deputy Mayor István Puskás said the programs related to Hungarian Culture Day in Debrecen will begin with an exhibition opening. On January 16, an exhibition of literary illustrations for Magda Szabó’s novel “Abigél” by illustrator-painter Alexandra Grela and visual artist Ábel Kónya will open at the New Town Hall Gallery. He added that they also plan to present this exhibition beyond the borders.

“In the network of community spaces that weave through Debrecen, the city’s residents will be presented with programs celebrating Debrecen and Hungarian culture. The central element of this series of programs is January 22, Hungarian Culture Day. According to our traditions, the day will start with the wreath-laying at the bas-relief of Ferenc Kölcsey in the Reformed College and then at the statue in front of the Reformed Gymnasium. The Déri Museum, the Kölcsey Center, the MODEM, the Méliusz Juhász Péter Library, and all the city’s cultural institutions will be part of the Culture Day programs, which will conclude in the evening with a gala by the Debrecen Folk Ensemble,” the deputy mayor pointed out. He revealed that the Debrecen Culture Foundation awards and scholarships will be presented again this year in connection with Hungarian Culture Day.

In addition, a civil initiative has also led to the establishment of the Ilona Várhalmi Award by Debrecen’s cultural institutions and the University of Debrecen for teachers who go above and beyond their duties to ensure that Debrecen’s students and culture connect more intensively. This award will be presented to the winner on January 21 at the Vojtina Puppet Theatre. Puskás István finally noted that not only will Debrecen visit Oreada, but Oradea and Partium will also be with us in Debrecen on Hungarian Culture Day through a photo exhibition at the Partium House.

Vilmos Hercz said that on January 22, they are preparing for Hungarian Culture Day with a one-act dance theatre performance titled “Tales of Our Masters,” which pays tribute to Dr. András Béres, the founder of the ensemble. The show weaves together the dance experiences of the Upper Tisza region, Hajdúság, and Hortobágy, with nearly eighty members of the ensemble’s three groups participating.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Debrecen Folk Ensemble, Mayor László Papp spoke about further cooperation: Debrecen was famous for its inns and taverns, from Hortobágy to Látókép, being filled with gypsy music even in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This value is worth protecting and thinking with the Debrecen Folk Ensemble about preserving and maintaining the remaining values.

Programs for Hungarian Culture Day in Debrecen:

January 16 (Thursday)

  • 4:00 p.m.: Literary illustrations for Magda Szabó’s novel “Abigél.” Exhibition by illustrator-painter Alexandra Grela and visual artist Ábel Kónya. (Location: New Town Hall (Debrecen, Kálvin tér 11.)

January 19 (Sunday)

  • 4:00 p.m.: Alföldi Wedding – Heit Lóri and his Band (Location: DEMKI Csapókerti Community House (Debrecen, Süveg u. 3.)

January 20 (Monday)

  • 4:00 p.m.: Colorful Adaptation – Exhibition by painter B. Orosz István. Opening by ethnographer Dr. Mária Vajda (Location: DEMKI- Borsos Villa; Debrecen, Borsos József tér 1.)
  • 4:30 p.m.: “Walking in the Forest, Green Meadows” book presentation and photo exhibition, in collaboration with the Debrecen Great Forest Nature and Cultural Association (Location: DEMKI- Youth House; Debrecen, Simonffy 21.)
  • 5:00 p.m.: Costumes of the Carpathian Basin – Exhibition of works by photographer H. Csongrády Márta (Location: DEMKI- Újkerti Community House; Debrecen, Jerikó u. 17.)
  • 5:00 p.m.: Treasures of Our Art. Exhibition by the Cívis Traditional Folk Art Association (Location: DEMKI-Józsai Community House; Debrecen-Józsa, Szentgyörgyfalvi u. 9)

January 21 (Tuesday)

  • 10:00 a.m.: “With a Pure Heart.” Musical, literary morning in the spirit of Attila József (Location: DEMKI-Borsos Villa; Debrecen, Jerikó u. 17.)
  • 6:00 p.m.: Várhalmi Ilona Award Ceremony (Location: Vojtina Puppet Theatre; Debrecen, Kálvin tér 13.)
  • 6:00 p.m.: Impressions from the History of the Hymn. Exhibition by photographer István Tóth from Nagyvárad and a lecture by art writer Dr Ferenc Vitéz, featuring violist Sándor József Thurzó and the Sola Fide Community and Cultural Association (Location: Partium House; Debrecen, Piac utca 81.)

January 22 (Wednesday)

  • 10:00 a.m.: Wreath-laying ceremony at the bas-relief of Ferenc Kölcsey at the Debrecen Reformed Theological University (Location: DRHE; Debrecen, Kálvin tér 16.)Speech by Dr. Ferenc Vitéz, Vice-Rector for Education at DRHE
  • 10:20 a.m.: Wreath-laying at the statue of Ferenc Kölcsey (Péterfia u.)
  • 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: “Pick a Poem for Yourself – Let’s Soar with the Birds.” Thematic activity for kindergarten and school groups for Hungarian Culture Day (by prior registration; Location: Zoo Debrecen; Debrecen, Ady E. u. 1.)
  • 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (January 22-26): Presentation of the Nautilus Cup (Szomolányi Collection; Location: Déri Museum; Debrecen, Déri tér 1.)
  • 1:00 p.m.: Hungarian Culture Day – Language Quiz (Location: DEMKI-Homokkerti Community House; Debrecen, Szabó Kálmán u. 78.)
  • 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.: Hungarian Inventors. Educational lecture (Location: Agóra Science Experience Center; Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1., entrance from Móricz Zs. út)
  • 2:00 p.m: “Influence, Create, Enrich…” Conference on Hungarian Talent (Location: Méliusz Central Library, 2nd floor cloister; Debrecen, Bem tér 19.)
  • 2:00 p.m, 4:00 p.m, 6:00 p.m: Debrecen 175 Drama Competition – Reading theatre of award-winning works (Location: Csokonai Forum/Simor Ottó Orfeum; Debrecen, Csapó u. 30.)
  • 3:00 p.m: Conversation about Géza Gárdonyi with his great-grandson, Péter Keller, and literary historian István Cs. Varga (Location: Déri Museum; Debrecen, Déri tér 1.)
  • 4:00 p.m– 6:00 p.m: Hungarian Folk Motif Craft Corner for children (Location: Méliusz Central Library Children’s Section; Debrecen, Bem tér 19.)
  • 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Hungarian Culture Quiz – Family Challenge Competition (Location: Méliusz Central Library; Debrecen, Bem tér 19.)
  • 4:30 p.m.: Tour of the Old Town Hall, led by Deputy Mayor István Puskás (Location; Debrecen, Piac u. 20.)
  • 6:30 p.m.: “God, Bless the Hungarians.” Church visit led by Mayor László Papp on Hungarian Culture Day (Location: Debrecen Reformed Great Church)
  • 5:00 p.m.: Curator’s guided tour by Krisztián Gábor Török of the “Learning from Nature? Botany” exhibition (Location: MODEM; Debrecen, Hunyadi u. 1-3.)
  • 5:30 p.m.: Wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Ferenc Kölcsey at the Kölcsey Center. Featuring the Little Choir of the Ferenc Kölcsey Reformed Primary School Location: Kölcsey Center (Debrecen, Hunyadi u. 1-3.)
  • 6:00 p.m.: Debrecen Culture Foundation Award Ceremony (Location: Old Town Hall, Simonffy Hall; Debrecen, Piac u. 20.)
  • 6:00 p.m.: “Briefly about the Required Readings?” Informal discussion about the required readings with Ágnes Szabados, Csilla Papp, and Gergely Máté Kiss (Location: Kölcsey Center, Kölcsey Café; Debrecen, Hunyadi u. 1-3.)
  • 6:30 p.m.: Screening of the film “I Accidentally Wrote a Book” and audience meeting with director Nóra Lakos and actress Réka Tenki (Location: Apolló Cinema; Debrecen, Miklós u. 1.)
  • 8:00 p.m: Debrecen 175 Drama Competition Award Ceremony. Festive performance of “Tales of Our Masters” by the Debrecen Folk Ensemble (Location: Csokonai Theatre; Debrecen, Kossuth u. 10.)

January 23 (Thursday)

  • 4:00 p.m.: Centuries of a Tanner’s Estate. Organizer: DEMKI (Location: Derecske City Cultural Center and Library Móré Mihály Gallery; Derecske, Köztársaság út 107.)
  • 6:00 p.m.: The Face of Debrecen. Illustrated conversation with the authors of the upcoming book “In the Footsteps of Debrecen’s Civic Houses and Residents II.”
    • Moderator: Lajos Lakner
    • Location: Déri Museum (Debrecen, Déri tér 1.)

January 24 (Friday)

  • 4:00 p.m.: My Soul, My Feelings Have Inherited. Musical and poetic performance with the participation of artists from the Csokonai National Theatre (Location: DEMKI-Homokkerti Community House; Debrecen, Szabó Kálmán u. 68.)
  • 8:00 p.m.: Club Acoustic – Acoustic music evening (Location: DEMKI- Youth House; Debrecen, Simonffy u. 21.)

January 25 (Saturday)

  • 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Carnival of Crafts (Location: DEMKI-Tímárház-Folk Crafts Creative House; Debrecen, Nagy-Gál István u. 6.)
  • 1:00 p.m.: Talents. Exhibition of former students of the Nádudvar Folk Crafts Vocational High School. Welcome speech by Réka Benő-Nagy, director of the Nádudvar Folk Crafts Vocational High School (Location: DEMKI-Tímárház-Folk Crafts Creative House; Debrecen, Nagy-Gál István u. 6.)

Source and photo credit: debrcecen.hu

Debrecen4U Staff
Author: Debrecen4U Staff