Local services
On April 11, 2025, Debrecen City Day and the 176th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence were celebrated with various programs for the people of Debrecen.
The day began with a ceremonial flag raising in front of the Old Town Hall. After that, children attending the Faragó Street Kindergarten, the Sinay Miklós Street Kindergarten, and the Debrecen Reformed College Kindergarten on Tímár Street, as well as students from one class of the Debrecen Fazekas Mihály Grammar School, were able to get to know the Old Town Hall with the guidance of Mayor László Papp.
The city day also marked the start of this year’s finals of the Debrecen24, “Sleep Again!” secondary school competition, the largest youth event of the year in the city. During the 24-hour competition, secondary school students can try their hand at various games and skill tasks.
An unusual history lesson, “Cívis Values”, and an interactive exhibition on the crafts that were once typical of Debrecen, pottery, gingerbread making, and leatherwork awaited visitors at the Kölcsey Centre.
In 2024, a new dish was born on the occasion of the city’s day: the dish filled with the Hungaricum, Debrecen paired sausage, cheese, ewe cheese and ramsons, was named “Debrecen batyu” (a Debrecen gourment puff pastry). A total of 1,693 dill buns (a pastry with yeast dough) and “Debrecen batyus” could be tasted, and the recipe for a traditional Debrecen dish was also available at the Kölcsey Centre.
The gathered here were greeted by Mayor László Papp, Chancellor of the Debrecen Vocational Training Center Zsolt Tirpák, Debrecen School District Centre László Türk, and Masterchef and Vice President of the Hajdúság Gastronomy Club Lajos Tóth.
The event was realised with the cooperation of the Municipality of Debrecen, the Hajdúság Gastronomy Club, the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre, the Főnix Event Organiser Public Nonprofit Ltd., the Diószegi Sámuel Baptist Technical School and Vocational Training School, the Debrecen Hajdú Dance Ensemble, the Debrecen Garrison Orchestra and the Debrecen Folk Ensemble.
In the baking of the delicacies, the professionals of the Hajdúsági Gastronomy Club, the tourism and catering branch (cook and confectioner) of the Trade and Catering Technical and Vocational School of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre; the food industry branch (baker and baker-cook) of the Irinyi János Technical School of the the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre; students of the tourism and catering branch of Bethlen Gábor Economic Technical School and College of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre, and students of the food industry sector (baker and confectioner) of the Diószegi Sámuel Baptist Technical and Vocational School participated, with the students’ work assisted by their teachers in the institutions. The Creative Technical School of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre provided the table and other decorations at the catering location. Students and teachers helped with baking and distributing the “batyus” and dill buns.
As part of the City Day tasting, the Debrecen Garrison Orchestra also received a certificate of honor confirming its inclusion in the Debrecen Treasures. The orchestra’s conductor, István Pál, received it from the Chairman of the Debrecen Treasures Committee, János Mazsu.
As part of City Day, visitors could see an exhibition presenting Attila Katona’s bicycle collection. A lecture entitled “The Devilish Professor” István Hatvani and His Era was given at the Agora Scientific Science Experience Centre. At the Déri Museum, visitors could wander through the renewed exhibition titled “The World of Cívis” and an archaeological lecture was held, while starting from the Medgyessy Museum, visitors could get acquainted with the sculptor’s work as part of the Medgyessy Free Walk. At the Csokonai Forum, an anthology of verses containing the works of contemporary poets entitled “The Heartblade” was presented at the Méliusz Library, and the memorial sites of writers and poets in Debrecen were discussed. At the Debrecen Public Cemetery, visitors could pilgrimage to the graves of Debrecen poets as part of a thematic walk.
The day ended with a concert by the Bordó Sárkány band at the Kölcsey Centre, the Kodály Choir Debrecen gave a concert titled “Light and Shadow” at the Reformed Great Church, and the grand operetta “Victoria” by Pál Ábrahám was staged at the Csokonai Theater.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
