Fun with Maps ISSUE 2025-133

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (August 20, 2025) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps, we harvest the wheat, bake the bread and cut the cake…in Hungary.      

HUNGARY’S NATIONAL DAY

August 20th is the date for the founding of Hungary in 1000 AD by Stephen I and celebrations there are equivalent to the US’ 4th of July.

Flying the flag is a very important symbol of the national celebration.  The Hungarian flag is red, white and green – red symbolizing strength, white for faithfulness and patriotism, and green for hope.

In Budapest, there is a ceremony with the cutting of the Cake of Hungary and a ceremony of state awards, followed by a procession led by the mummified hand of St. Stephen.

Traditionally, part of the day is the New Bread Festival, based on baking, blessing and sharing of newly baked loaves of bread adorned with ribbons in the national colors of red, white, and green.  This celebrates the wheat harvest and the traditional end of summer.

During Communist days, August 20 was celebrated as Constitution Day.

This map of Hungary is from 1897.  Hungary shrunk significantly when the boundaries were redrawn after World War I (happens if you lose a war).

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.