Local services
On the occasion of the 201st anniversary of the birth of the National Anthem and the Day of Hungarian Culture, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Debrecen Reformed College and at the recently renovated Kölcsey statue on Péterfia Street on the 22nd of January 22.
Deputy Mayor István Puskás said in his speech that the Kölcsey statue had put on festive clothes so that we could celebrate with it. He emphasised that Debrecen remained a very important centre of Hungarian cultural identity. ‘Not only our traditions from the past, but everything that happens in the culture of Debrecen, through the handing over of Térey Könyvsarok, the renewal of the Csokonai National Theater in Debrecen to our events taking place in the city. All of them can validly serve the life of our community, and they can say something valid to the national culture as well,’ the Deputy Mayor underlined.
Two Kölcsey relics, the poet’s Biedermeier secretaire and his pen holder which Kölcsey used in his Czech study when he wrote the Anthem, were presented today in the Déri Museum. The personal items had been brought to the museum with the support of the city of Debrecen, the National Cultural Fund, and the National Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers. ‘This is a special moment, because it is not often in the life of a city-maintained institution that such important and far-reaching heritage items come into the ownership of the Déri Museum, ’ Mayor László Papp emphasised. He recalled that in the past ten years, all three pieces of the Munkácsy trilogy had been put into place.
‘It is an important mission for the city to try to take care, if it can, of the souvenirs belonging to its history, historicity, Debrecen-ness, becoming city property,’ he stated.
The recognition of the Debrecen Culture Foundation was also presented today at the Déri Museum. The foundation was established in 1991 with the intention of taking on the patronage of the spiritual and cultural life of the city of Debrecen. It encourages the artistic and cultural endeavours of individuals, institutions, and ensembles, and helps the development of cultural relations both in Hungary and abroad.
On the Day of Hungarian Culture, the city of Debrecen and the Csokonai National Theater announced a drama competition to commemorate the fact that 175 years ago, in 1849, Debrecen, as the capital of the country, stood at the forefront of the freedom struggle. New, individual, original works in Hungarian that present the historical period of the ‘guardian city of freedom’ are expected for the competition.
At the end of the day, the audience can see a performance by the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble entitled ‘Echoes of the Carpathians’ in the Csokonai Theater. At the performance, the spectators can travel in spirit from Rábaköz to Székelyföld, from Sárköz to the Matyó countryside or the Dél Alföld, but together with the dancers.
The Day of Hungarian Culture is also celebrated in the Szigliget Theater in Nagyvárad with a series of programs. Deputy Mayor István Puskás represents the city of Debrecen at events across the border.
