The first Advent candle was lit in Debrecen’s main square

The first Advent candle became bright in Kossuth Square on the 1st of December, 2024, with the participation of László Papp, the city’s mayor, and representatives of the three historic churches. The city’s decorative lights were also turned on Sunday afternoon.

At the beginning of his speech, Mayor László Papp said, “Joy and enthusiasm take over when you look around Debrecen’s main square on the first Sunday of Advent and see that a vast crowd wants to share in the blazing flame of the candle of faith and the shining of the lights of the holiday.

“It is good to be together again on the evening of the first Sunday of Advent, here at the city’s Christmas tree; it is good to see and feel that thousands of people from Debrecen, Reformed, Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist and other Christian faiths, year after year, are committing to the importance of Christmas, the celebration of love. We send a message to the world that waiting for the birth of Jesus is still uplifting and that the hearts of millions of Hungarians beat with the first Advent candle flame,” the Mayor said.

László Papp thanked all those who have been working for weeks in the centre of Debrecen to dazzle us and conjure up a Christmas fairytale world. This reinforces the feeling that Debrecen is a huge and strong community full of love, where love and respect for one another, not hatred or anger, are the strength of a community of citizens who overcome all difficulties.

Following the Mayor’s remarks, the festive lights of the city centre were illuminated. The Mayor of Debrecen lit the first Advent candle with representatives of the Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic and Reformed Churches. Ferenc Palánki, the Bishop of the Debrecen-Nyíregyháza Diocese, István Seszták, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Hajdúdorog and István Oláh, the Presiding Pastor of the Reformed Church of Debrecen also shared their Advent messages.

After the candle lighting, the Debrecen Charity Board welcomed the guests to the Memorial Garden, which was transformed into the Advent Soul Garden.

The candle-lighting ceremony can be watched via the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/drpappl/videos/611731854532224

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu