Hungary, My Second Home: Reflections on St. Stephen’s Day

Every year on 20 August, Hungary pauses to commemorate one of the most significant moments in its national history: the foundation of the Hungarian state and the legacy of King Saint Stephen I, Hungary’s first king.

For Hungarians, St. Stephen’s Day is naturally a celebration of history, national identity and more than a thousand years of statehood. For those of us who came from elsewhere but have had the privilege of making Hungary our home, it also presents an opportunity to reflect on what this remarkable country has come to mean to us.

I came to Hungary as a foreign national. Almost a decade later, it has become increasingly difficult for me to describe Hungary simply as the country where I live. Over the years, it has gradually become something much more personal: my second home.

A Nation Built on Resilience

The story of Hungary is, in many respects, a story of resilience.

Across more than a millennium of statehood, Hungary has experienced extraordinary periods of achievement as well as invasion, occupation, war, political transformation and economic change. Yet through these different chapters, the Hungarian people have preserved a remarkably strong sense of national identity.

The Hungarian language, traditions, music, cuisine, architecture and national symbols continue to provide a powerful connection between generations. Even as Hungary has modernised, this attachment to history remains visible in everyday life.

Perhaps that is one of the lessons Hungary offers the world: modernisation does not necessarily require a nation to abandon its identity.

Today, Hungary is deeply connected to European and international economic, scientific and cultural networks. At the same time, its historic towns, castles, churches, folk traditions and national celebrations continue to remind us of the long journey that produced the modern Hungarian state.

The symbolism of 20 August captures this beautifully. Alongside the commemoration of Saint Stephen and Hungarian statehood, the day is traditionally associated with the celebration of the new bread, connecting national history with agriculture, community and gratitude.

Hungary’s Achievements Deserve Recognition

Hungary’s influence has often extended far beyond what might be expected from a country of its geographical size.

Hungarians have made remarkable contributions to science, medicine, mathematics, engineering, music, literature, sport and innovation. Hungarian intellectual and scientific traditions have produced internationally recognised researchers, inventors and Nobel laureates, while Hungarian artists, composers and athletes have carried the country’s name around the world.

Education and scientific research remain important parts of Hungary’s international identity. Hungarian universities welcome students and researchers from many countries, creating opportunities not only for education but also for cultural exchange and international cooperation.

Budapest itself reflects Hungary’s ability to bring history and modernity together. The Parliament overlooking the Danube, the bridges connecting Buda and Pest, the universities, thermal baths, historic neighbourhoods and modern infrastructure tell different chapters of the same national story.

Yet Hungary’s achievements cannot be measured only through buildings, economic indicators or international awards.

A country’s greatest achievement is ultimately found in the society it creates and in the lives people are able to build within it.

Seeing Hungary Through the Eyes of a Foreigner

Living in another country for a short period allows you to observe it.

Living there for almost a decade allows you to experience it.

You begin to understand things that cannot easily be captured in tourist brochures. You experience ordinary mornings on public transport, conversations with colleagues, celebrations with friends, Hungarian hospitality, countryside journeys, family occasions and the changing seasons.

You begin recognising places not because they are famous landmarks, but because they carry memories.

Certain Hungarian words gradually become part of your everyday vocabulary. Traditions that once required explanation become familiar. Professional relationships develop into friendships. Eventually, the country stops feeling completely foreign.

That has been my experience with Hungary.
As a Ghanaian living here, I arrived with my own culture, identity and traditions. My years in Hungary have taught me that it is entirely possible to love and remain connected to one’s country of origin while developing a profound attachment to another country that has provided opportunities, friendships, experiences and memories.

Ghana will always be my homeland, but Hungary has become my second home.

Discovering the Hungary Beyond Budapest

One of the experiences that has strengthened this connection has been discovering Hungary beyond Budapest.

There is another beautiful side of Hungary outside the capital: its towns, villages, vineyards, lakes, forests and communities where traditions remain closely connected to everyday life.

Travelling through the Hungarian countryside has allowed me to appreciate the country differently. From the Danube Bend to Lake Balaton, and from historic towns to quiet rural communities, Hungary possesses a beauty that is sometimes understated but deeply memorable.

These experiences have helped me understand that Hungarian identity is not confined to monuments or national ceremonies. It lives in families, communities, local traditions, food, festivals and the attachment people have to the places from which they come.

This is the Hungary that visitors may not immediately see, but it is the Hungary that those who live here gradually discover and learn to appreciate.

Belonging Comes With Responsibility

Calling another country home should mean more than simply residing there.

For foreign nationals who have chosen Hungary as their home, integration must involve responsibility. We should respect Hungarian laws, learn about the country’s history and culture, contribute through our professions, participate positively in our communities and build meaningful relationships with the people around us.

At the same time, foreign nationals can contribute something valuable to Hungary’s increasingly international society.

We bring languages, professional experiences, international networks, cultures and perspectives from different parts of the world. When integration works well, these differences do not have to weaken national communities. They can enrich them.

My own journey in Hungary has allowed me to meet people from different backgrounds, develop professionally, participate in community initiatives and contribute in whatever ways I can towards strengthening relationships between Hungarians, Ghanaians and the wider international community.

I have increasingly come to believe that one of the most meaningful forms of diplomacy happens not only between governments, but also between ordinary people.

Friendship between nations begins with friendship between individuals.

A Celebration That Now Feels Personal

For someone who has lived in Hungary for almost a decade, 20 August has come to mean more than watching the spectacular fireworks illuminate the skies above Budapest and the Danube.

When I see the Hungarian flag displayed across the city, families gathering together and thousands of people participating in the celebrations, I am reminded that I am witnessing the celebration of a nation whose history stretches back more than a thousand years.

But I am also reminded that a small chapter of my own story has now become connected to Hungary’s continuing story.

That is something for which I remain grateful.

No country is without challenges. Nations continue to evolve, debate their future and search for solutions to the problems confronting their societies. Hungary is no exception. However, national days provide an opportunity to look beyond immediate challenges and recognise the larger journey of a people, their sacrifices, achievements and aspirations.

Today is therefore a day to congratulate the Hungarian people.

It is a day to celebrate more than a millennium of statehood and to appreciate Hungary’s contributions to European history, science, culture, education, sport and innovation.

It is also a day for those of us who came from elsewhere, but who have been welcomed into Hungarian workplaces, universities, neighbourhoods and communities, to simply say:

Köszönöm, Magyarország.

Thank you, Hungary, for the opportunities.
Thank you for the friendships and memories.
Thank you for allowing people from distant parts of the world to find a place within your society while still carrying our own cultures and identities with us.

After almost a decade of living here, Hungary is no longer merely the country in which I reside.

It is a country whose streets hold memories, whose people include colleagues and friends, whose countryside I have come to admire and whose future I genuinely care about.

Ghana is the land of my birth and will forever remain my homeland. Hungary is the country that welcomed me, gave me opportunities to grow and, over the years, became my second home.

On this 20th of August, I proudly join Hungarians across the country in celebrating the foundation of the Hungarian state and the remarkable journey of this nation.

Boldog Szent István-napot!
Isten éltessen, Magyarország! 🇭🇺

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