Debrecen4U May 30, 2025

Hortobágyi Csárda became a Hungarikum

At the meeting of the Hungaricum Committee in Hortobágy, the “csárda” and the “badacsonyi kéknyelű” were declared Hungarikums. The Conductive Pedagogy System based on the Pető Method, as well as the Békés County embroidery and the Hungarian saddle were included in the Collection of Hungarian Values. This brought the number of values in the Collection of Hungaricums to 96 and the Collection of Hungarian Values  to 158.

“Csárda” is the traditional name of taverns and pubs in Hungary, located outside the settlement, on the outskirts, on the plains, mainly in the Great Plain, along the roads leading to the major market places. The name “csárda” is still used today as part of the name of catering establishments, especially free-standing ones.

The “csárda”, a catering unit or complex traditionally characteristic of Hungary, has been added to the Hungarikum Collection and has operated as both accommodation and catering since the early modern period and still exists today.

In a video message posted on István Nagy’s social media page, he said that the more than 300-year-old Hortobágyi Csárda, which hosted the committee meeting, is also an integral part of Hungarian culture. It is a preserver and a mediator of values, and we should be extremely proud of this.

He added that the “Badacsony kéknyelű” has also been declared a Hungaricum. This is especially important for us because this grape variety is grown on barely 45 hectares. It has even happened that the juice made from this grape was chosen as the best wine in the world. The “kéknyelű” is considered an autochthonous variety, that is, an ancient variety that has remained in its place of origin, and therefore an indigenous variety, in the literature.

The Conductive Pedagogy System based on the Pető method has been added to the  Collection of Hungarian Values, which helps people with disabilities in their physical and mental development, regaining their abilities and better integrating into society.

It is unique in the world that conductive pedagogy is both a part of public education and public health.

From today, the Békés County fur embroidery is also part of the Hungarian Heritage. In his video, the Minister of Agriculture said that living communities practice this craft to this day, the recognition of which is important for us to pass on these traditions to future generations. The Békés County fur craftsmanship appeared in an organised form in the first half of the 18th century, when the first guild was established. In the 19th century, the economic development of the county led to an increased demand for high-quality housing culture and more fashionable clothing. Ornately embroidered “ködmöns” (short- to long-sleeved, warm overcoat made from sheep’s wool) and “subas” (cloak-like Hungarian folk costume made from sheep’s wool, reaching to the ankles) were widespread items of clothing for the population of Békés County. In 2021, the “Living Tradition of Békés County Frieze Embroidery” was also added to the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Minister underlined that the committee is very proud that the Hungarian saddle has also been included in the treasury, which played a major role in the execution of numerous heroic deeds.

The committee’s report shows that, based on the research carried out so far and the examinations processing the material of the richest and most prestigious public collections, we can conclude that our saddle is part of our Eastern cultural heritage, which underwent a certain internal development process after the settlement in the Carpathian Basin. The result of this is that the Hungarian saddle, and its most widespread version, the Tiszafüred saddle, was an object of esteem in the everyday life of our peasantry and on festive occasions until it was forced out of use.

István Nagy concluded his video message by saying that with the decisions of the Hungarikum Committee on Thursday, our national self-awareness has become richer and more numerous than it was.

Source and photo credit:dehir.hu