Niagara Falls illuminated in the national colors of Hungary
Numerous commemorative events will take place around the world on October 23 to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Spectacular light installations at international landmarks and an extensive cultural program will pay tribute to the historic events.
As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, Hungarian diplomatic missions around the world are organizing a wide range of wreath-laying ceremonies, receptions, conferences and festive events in dozens of countries to mark the anniversary.
One of the visual highlights of this year’s celebrations will be light projections on world-famous monuments:
North America: In the United States, several commemorative ceremonies and light projections are planned in Washington, D.C., and New York City. In Canada, two iconic landmarks will be illuminated in the Hungarian national colors of red, white and green: the thundering Niagara Falls and Toronto’s CN Tower.
South America: Brazil’s most famous landmarks will also join the commemorations. Both the Christ the Redeemer statue (Cristo Redentor) in Rio de Janeiro and the television tower in the capital, Brasília, will be illuminated for the occasion.
Europe and Asia: In Istanbul, the metropolis straddling two continents, the Bosphorus Bridge will provide the backdrop for a light projection. Prague will also feature festive light displays.
The calendar is equally packed with academic and cultural events in Hungary’s neighboring countries.
Austria: Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral will be illuminated for the celebrations. The program in the Austrian capital will also include concerts and presentations of new books and documentary films. Innsbruck will host a ceremonial commemorative concert.
Slovakia: While Bratislava (Pozsony) will host an academic conference of historians examining the events, Košice (Kassa) will offer a historical panel discussion and a screening of the drama A berni követ (The Ambassador to Bern).
Romania: In addition to a specialist conference in Bucharest and a special contemporary history lesson in Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda), Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár) will organize a discussion forum, a gala performance and a traditional torchlight procession.
Croatia: In Zagreb (Zágráb), the revolutionary flag of 1956 will be projected onto one of the city’s fountain installations, while the pedestrian bridge over the Drava River in Osijek (Eszék) will be illuminated.
Serbia: Belgrade will project the Hungarian national flag onto a high-rise building and commemorate the autumn of 1956 with a jazz concert.
Ukraine: Kyiv will commemorate the events with a concert in honor of Franz Liszt, complemented by specialist conferences in Berehove (Beregszász) and Uzhhorod (Ungvár).
Slovenia: In Ljubljana, a concert will likewise form the centerpiece of the commemorations.
The worldwide response demonstrates that the events of autumn 1956 — when the Hungarian people rose up against Soviet occupation — continue to be regarded as a central symbol of Europe’s commitment to freedom and of solidarity put into practice.
The event at Lincoln Center featured Klaudia Kovács’s documentary "Torn from the Flag."Continue reading
Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/Consulate General of Hungary in Toronto/Magyarország Torontói Főkonzulátusa
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