Visitors look at original manuscript of Hungary's national anthem during the Day of Hungarian Culture event in Budapest, Hungary, on Jan. 22, 2019. The Day of Hungarian Culture event was held throughout the country with awards, literary evenings, book presentations, wreath-laying ceremonies and fine art exhibitions, official sources said on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Attila Volgyi)
BUDAPEST, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Day of Hungarian Culture is being celebrated throughout the country with awards, literary evenings, book presentations, wreath-laying ceremonies and fine art exhibitions, according to official sources here on Tuesday.
"The Day of Hungarian Culture has been celebrated on Jan. 22 in memory of the completion of the Hungarian National Anthem by poet Ferenc Kolcsey on this day in 1823," Hungarian news agency MTI reported.
On Jan. 22, 1823, Kolcsey, one of the most important literary characters in Hungarian history, completed his manuscript of the Hungarian National Anthem which is now considered his work of art. It was first mentioned as the national anthem in 1989 and since then the day when the poem was finished is called the Day of Hungarian Culture, said the report.
The Day of the Hungarian Culture is a day offering cultural events and programs that aim to hand over bits of the nation's cultural, artistic values to the younger generations.
The celebration lasts for days in many cities with a series of programs including ethnographic book exhibitions, concerts, traditional craft workshops, screenings, folk music and poetry plays, anthem reciting competitions, literary contests etc.
"Handing over traditions to our children is one of the focuses of these programs," MTI underlined.
The original of Kolcsey's manuscript is kept in the National Museum.
On Tuesday, Hungarian television and radio channels also marked the Day with dedicated cultural programs, famous Hungarian films and music as well as talent shows for children.
