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The 22nd of January is the day of Hungarian Culture. Literature, visual arts, music and dance will take centre stage for the next week. For example, the Debrecen Folk Ensemble, which is 75 years old this year, is preparing a special gala performance at the Csokonai Theatre. Margitta, Berettyóújfalu, Nagyvárad and Debrecen traditionally celebrate Hungarian Culture Day together.
The Debrecen Folk Ensemble, 75 years old this year, is preparing a special gala performance at the Csokonai Theatre. With the production “Tales of our Masters”, the founder of the ensemble, Andrés Béres, will be remembered. The gala evening will take place at the Csokonai Theatre on Wednesday, the 22nd of January.
“80 people will dance, three groups will perform the production for the Ensemble. The Kisbéres group, the Youth group, and the Adult group. It is interesting that Levente Sári’s sand animation will weave through the whole thing and it is very important that the Bürkös orchestra has composed music for it, which will make the performance even more exciting,” the leader of the Debrecen Folk Ensemble Vilmos Hercz said.
On the occasion of the Hungarian Culture Day, a week-long series of events will be launched in the city’s cultural institutions and community spaces. The diversity of Hungarian and Debrecen culture will be presented through literature, visual arts, music and dance.
But Debrecen is not the only city celebrating, since 2016, four municipalities have been jointly preparing for this day.
“Margitta, Berettyóújfalu, Nagyvárad and Debrecen are celebrating the Day of Hungarian Culture together. In this spirit, the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a gala evening in Nagyvárad on the 22nd at the Szigligeti Theatre. And in the Partium House, Oradea and Bihor will host a photo exhibition,” Deputy Mayor István Puskás said.
In the last 10 years, Debrecen’s cultural spaces have undergone significant renewal. The renovation of the Csokonai Theatre, for example, was recently completed, and in 2019 the Kodály Music Secondary School was modernised, while the city’s public spaces have also been given a more modern look in recent years.
We are celebrating several anniversaries this year, including the 200th anniversary of the birth of Mór Jókai, who always spoke highly of Debrecen.
Mayor László Papp said, “Debrecen still sees its role today as Jókai did back then. Pest is the center of the country, but Debrecen is the center of the Hungarian people. Many individuals studied in Debrecen who have significantly contributed to the values and value creation of our national culture. We can be very proud of the achievements that Debrecen has made in the past three hundred years for the benefit of the nation in a cultural sense, and if there is something to be proud of, there is also something to celebrate, “ Mayor László Papp emphasised.
The series of events to celebrate the Day of Hungarian Culture will run until next Friday.
16 January (Thursday)
4.00 p.m. Literary illustrations for Magda Szabó’s novel Abigél – Opening of the exhibition by Alexandra Grela, illustrator-artist and Ábel Kónya, visual artist.
New Town Hall (Debrecen, 11 Kálvin Square)
20 January (Monday)
4.30 p.m. ““Walking in the Forest, Green Fields” – Book launch and photo exhibition.
With the participation of the Debrecen Nature and Cultural Association for the Great Forest of Debrecen.
DEMKI – Youth House (Debrecen, 21 Simonffy Street.)
21 January (Tuesday)
10.00 a.m. : “With a pure heart” – musical literary morning in the spirit of Attila József.
DEMKI Borsos-villa (Debrecen, 17 Jerikó Street)
22 January (Wednesday)
8.00 a.m.: New street exhibition of Természettár – Nature poetry by 7 Hungarian poets
10.00 a.m.: Wreath-laying ceremony of the relief of Ferenc Kölcsey at the Reformed University of Debrecen
Debrecen Reformed College (Debrecen, 16 Kálvin Square)
Greeting speeches will be given by Dr. Béla Levente Baráth, Rector of the Reformed Theological University of Debrecen and Dr. Ferenc Vitéz, Deputy Vice-Rector for Education of the Reformed Theological University of Debrecen, with the participation of Enikő Lember-Major, lecturer at the Department of Native Languages of the Reformed Theological University of Debrecen.
10.40 a.m.: Wreath-laying ceremony of the statue of Ferenc Kölcsey (Péterfia Street)
10.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.: “Make up a poem for yourself – Let’s soar with the birds” – thematic activity for kindergarten and school groups on the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Culture (by appointment)
Zoo Debrecen (Debrecen, 1 Ady Endre Road)
1.00 p.m.: Day of Hungarian Culture language quiz
DEMKI Homokkert Community House (Debrecen, 78 Szabó Kálmán Street.)
2.00 p.m., 14.00 p.m., 6.00 p.m.: Debrecen 175 Drama Competition – Reading theatre of the winning plays
Csokonai Forum/Simor Ottó Orfeum (Debrecen, 30 Csapó Street)
3.00 p.m.: Talk about Géza Gárdonyi with his great-grandson Péter Keller and Cs. István Varga, literary historian
Déri Museum (Debrecen, 1 Déri Square)
5.30 p.m.: Wreath-laying ceremony of the statue of Ferenc Kölcsey at the Kölcsey Centre with the Kölcsey Ferenc Reformed Primary School’s Little Children’s Choir
Kölcsey Centre (Debrecen, 1-3 Hunyadi Street)
6.00 p.m.: “About compulsory reading in short?” – Informal discussion about compulsory readings with Ágnes Szabados, Csilla Papp and Máté Kiss Gergely
Kölcsey Centre, Kölcsey Café (Debrecen, 1-3 Hunyadi Street)
8.00 p.m. Special gala performance of the Debrecen Folk Ensemble, “Tales of our Masters”, at the Csokonai Theatre
23 January (Thursday)
6.00 p.m.: “The Face of Debrecen” – Screening and discussion with the authors of the forthcoming book “In Search of the Civic Houses and Their Inhabitants in Debrecen II”.
Moderator: Lajos Lakner
24 January (Friday)
4.00 p.m.: “My soul, My feelings have received a heritage” – Musical and poetic programme with the artists of the Csokonai National Theatre
DEMKI Homokkert Community House (Debrecen, 68 Szabó Kálmán Street)
Source and photo credit: dehir.hu
