It marks the anniversary of the start of the 1848 Revolution against the Austrian Empire. It is one of three national holidays in the country. Hungary had been part of the Austrian Empire since the early part of the 19th century. The revolution began following widespread national discontent with taxation and a desire for freedom of the press, freedom of religion and an independent parliament for Hungary. On 15th March 1948 the poet of the revolution, Sandor Petofi and his fellow patriots addressed the nation from the stairs of the Hungarian National Museum, reciting the National Song. The revolution became the war of independence, which ended in defeat for the Hungarian revolutionaries in October 1849. Despite its failure, the revolution is seen as a key point in Hungary’s history.
It is custom for people to wear a cockade containing red, white and green ribbons, the colours of the Hungarian flag. The official programmes will begin at 9 a.m. with the traditional hoisting of the flag on Kossuth Square before the Parliament Building. From here there will be a march to the garden of the National Museum, led by a mounted guard of honour, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban will give a speech. The Polish Prime Minister will give a speech as a guest of the event.
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