Debrecen4U
March 16, 2026
Commemorations in Debrecen on the 178th anniversary of the Revolution of 15 March 1848
The series of commemorative events marking the 1848 Revolution began in Kossuth Square with the raising of Hungary’s national flag accompanied by military honours, in the presence of Mayor László Papp and Deputy Mayor István Puskás on 15 March 2026 in Debrecen.
The events then continued in Petőfi Square, at the statue of poet and revolutionary Sándor Petőfi. A commemorative programme entitled “We Swear…” was presented by the Csokonai National Theater’s theatrical ensemble, the members of Bérletszünet. After the ceremonial performance, wreaths were laid at the base of the statue by representatives of municipal and state institutions, armed forces, political parties and civil organisations.
At the end of the event, the now traditional march set off from Petőfi Square to Kossuth Square. The procession was accompanied by the Debrecen Hajdú Dance Ensemble, the Főnix Children’s and Youth Folk Dance Ensemble, the Pipás Band, the Alföld Stage, the Arts Centre of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Debrecen, and drama students from the Debrecen Ady Endre Secondary School. During the march, those gathered could watch performances and dance shows by students from the Alföld Stage and the Center for the Arts of the University of Debrecen, while students from the Debrecen Ady Endre High School performed in front of City Hall.
Those arriving in Kossuth Square were greeted by a flash mob, followed by the ceremonial programme Freedom Is the God of My Soul. The performers included the Debrecen Garrison Band, Lóri Heit and his band, as well as artists of the Csokonai National Theatre: actors Eszter Balázs‑Bécsi, Zsolt Dánielfy, István Papp, Klári Varga, and opera singer Norbert Antóni. The programme was curated by Ákos Kukovecz.
Afterwards, Mayor of Debrece László Papp had a speech:
“The homeland is in danger!” – said Lajos Kossuth in Pozsony on 11 July 1848 in the Hungarian Parliament. This sentence was not only addressed to a historical moment but was also a warning for every generation: the homeland is in danger when its freedom is in danger. Freedom is not enough to win – it must also be preserved.
For every Hungarian, 15 March is more than a historical anniversary. For 178 years this day has been the birthday of Hungarian freedom. It is the celebration of courage, faith and national self-determination. It is the day when a nation declared that it wished to decide its own fate, setting us on a historical path from which we have never departed when it comes to our freedom and sovereignty. However difficult the periods our nation faces, Hungarians remain committed to this, and I am convinced they always will: Let there be peace, freedom and unity!
15 March is a day in Hungarian history whose heroes, locations and symbols instantly come together as a shared memory in every Hungarian heart. Pilvax Café, Sándor Petőfi, National Song, the liberation of Mihály Táncsics, the Landerer printing house, the Twelve Points, the cockade – all concepts and names that evoke a single shared feeling: the desire for, respect for and love of Hungarian freedom and sovereignty.
Whenever these names are spoken – whether here in Debrecen’s main square or anywhere in the world – every Hungarian thinks of the same thing. Of the day when the soul of the nation was liberated at once, when the desire for freedom simultaneously became word, action and history.
This is why we gather year after year on this day. Not only to recall the events of history, but to strengthen within ourselves everything that keeps the Hungarian desire for freedom alive: love of homeland, respect for freedom and faith in the power of community.
Every 15 March the freedom of Hungary triumphs again and again over tyranny, and again and again we reaffirm our belief that no external power will ever be able to impose its will upon us, and that we will be capable of resistance even when empires stand against us.
When we commemorate historical anniversaries, we are not merely recalling the past. We are holding a mirror up to ourselves. In the events of the past we search for answers to our own questions: do we safeguard sufficiently the love of freedom and homeland that our predecessors possessed? Where are we heading, and what do the historical actions of our nation teach us, their later descendants? What do we carry forward, and what are we prepared to represent consistently in the present?
History sometimes repeats itself, but it always teaches. It teaches that change only creates a future when it has a crystal-clear purpose; when it brings order in place of chaos, not the other way round; when it builds and strengthens the nation, rather than undermining it. For this we need leaders like Bocskai, Rákóczi and Kossuth – leaders with clear values, vision and determination, not value-less weathercocks.
The revolution that unfolded on 15 March 1848 did not arise from nothing. It was preceded by the long struggles and debates of the Reform Era’s great figures, and by a yearning for freedom inflamed by the inhumanity of oppressive power. Freedom was therefore not the gift of a single day – but the fruit of generations of effort, and Debrecen understood this.
When news of the events in Pest reached Debrecen, our citizens did not sit idly by. The students of the college—strong in their faith, hungry for knowledge, and rebellious in spirit—stepped forward with their own demands. They wanted to join the National Guard. They demanded a say in their own affairs. They wanted freedom, along with the responsibility that came with it. This is the spirit of Debrecen.
This city was not only a witness to history—it was also a shaper of it. It is no coincidence that in 1849, the heart of the nation beat here. It was here, within the walls of the Great Reformed Church of Debrecen, that we proclaimed to the world the dethronement of the House of Habsburg, and it was from here that the military operations of the most hopeful period of the War of Independence—the Spring Offensive—were directed. It was then that Debrecen became, once and for all, the guardian city of Hungarian freedom.
However, the title of guardian city is not merely an honour; it is above all a responsibility. A responsibility to defend Hungarian freedom and national values, and to preserve our self-determination. A responsibility not to confuse meaningless noise with history, or fervour with truth.
According to Zsigmond Móricz, the people of Debrecen carry within them a spirit of self-respect, confidence and responsibility. If this strength were to extend across the entire nation, he wrote, there would be no need to fear for the future of the Hungarian people. Yet history is shaped not only by triumphs but also by wounds — and we have had many: Muhi, Mohács, Világos, Trianon. And still, we remain.
Of course, we have had not only wounds but also traitors – there have always been cowardly figures who sought power without ability, knowledge or responsibility and ultimately created chaos. A century ago the country nearly collapsed. Foreign interests tore our homeland apart and we were unable to defend ourselves because we had poor leadership. History may repeat itself if we do not learn from our mistakes.
In March 1848 the desire for freedom triumphed without bloodshed. However, preserving that freedom demanded sacrifice. That is why the words of Endre Ady still warn us today: there was a time when Hungarian life had order, soul and strength. I believe Hungarian life still has order, soul and strength today. The question is whether we are capable of safeguarding it. Maintaining order often leaves no room for compromise. Rejecting compromise, however, is not stubbornness; rather, it is a matter of principle and adherence to a firm set of values. Uncompromising means recognizing that there are values without which there is no future. Let us preserve this order, which grants us the freedom to remain sovereign. Let us preserve the faith that gives us strength even when empires swear against Hungarian freedom, and let us preserve the determination that made Debrecen a bastion of freedom.
Historical times are not merely parts of the past, and historical figures do not exist only on the pages of history books. We are living through historical times even in the present, as wars, crises, and mass migrations shape our lives. A clash of cultures and religions is unfolding around us. Europe’s Christian identity, if it even exists, hangs by a thread. Times like these call for historical figures—people who are experienced, strong, possess a firm set of values, and have a vision for the future.
It is an uplifting feeling to stand here, where 178 years ago the leaders of the War of Independence and our nation walked and lived their daily lives. We, the people of Debrecen, can take pride in the fact that it was here, on March 15, 1849, that the nation first celebrated the first anniversary of the revolution. However, this day became special not only because of the commemoration, but also because it was in Debrecen that genuine cooperation among religious denominations first took place in the spirit of the freedom fight. On March 15, 1849, we stood together in Debrecen.
On that morning, however, Bishop László Bémer of Oradea celebrated a solemn Mass at St. Anne’s Cathedral, after which the crowd marched together to the Reformed Great Church, where Mihály Tóth Könyves, the preacher of the War of Independence, delivered its message. The buildings, streets, and squares of our city still tell the story of those days.
Our celebration today pays tribute to the sacrifices of the young people of Pest in March, the youth of the Reformed College, and the city’s leaders at that time. We still hold these heroes close to our hearts today, and we bow our heads in reverence before the 119 soldiers resting in the Military Cemetery, who gave their lives for Hungarian freedom on August 2, 1849.
On behalf of every citizen of our city, I can declare: we wear the national-colored cockade with particular pride over our hearts in this city. In the city that was the capital of the War of Independence, and remains the guardian of Hungarian freedom to this day.
Just as in 1849, we believe today that Debrecen’s strength lies in the unity of its citizens and their love of freedom. Back then, a determined community defended our homeland and the honor of our nation. Today, it is our duty to honor and pass on this legacy in a worthy manner.
Freedom is not merely the glory of our past, but also the foundation of our future. When we look up at the Kossuth statue, the Reformed Great Church, or the College building, we feel the unshakable faith with which our ancestors fought for freedom, progress, and the Hungarian nation.
Let today’s celebration be a source of strength for us as well: let us continue to build Debrecen with the same faith, pride, and sense of responsibility as the March youth and former citizens did. Let us preserve our city as a bastion of freedom, knowledge, and civic virtue . Long live Hungarian freedom! Long live Debrecen, the guardian city of Hungarian freedom!”, László Papp concluded his speech.
At the close of the ceremony, representatives of municipal and state institutions, armed forces, political parties and civil organisations laid wreaths at the Kossuth statue.
In the afternoon, a family folk playhouse and craft workshops—felting, leatherworking, cord braiding, and gingerbread decorating—awaited the celebrants at City Hall, in collaboration with the Tímárház, students from the Károly Kratochvil Military High School and College welcomed visitors with an exhibition of 1848–49 military uniforms and weapons, and those curious about the building and its history could also take part in a guided tour of City Hall led by Deputy Mayor István Puskás.
The series of celebrations in Debrecen on March 15 concluded in Kossuth Square with a joint performance by folk dance groups—accompanied by the Bürkös Band—and the lowering of the Hungarian flag.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
