Hungary's geography has traditionally been defined by its two main waterways, the Danube and Tisza rivers. The common tripartite division of the country into three sections, and Duna-Tisza is a reflection of this. The Danube flows north-south right through the center of contemporary Hungary, and the entire country lies within its drainage basin. It is bordered with Slovakia to the north, Romania to the east, Austria to the west, and Serbia to the south

Hungary is a unitary, parliamentary, representative democratic republic. The Hungarian political system operates under a framework reformed in 2012. This constitutional document is the Fundamental Law of Hungary. Amendments generally require a two-thirds majority of parliament; the fundamental principles of the constitution (as expressed in the articles guaranteeing human dignity, the separation of powers, the state structure, and the rule of law) are valid in perpetuity. 199 Members of Parliament are elected to the highest organ of state authority, the unicameral National Assembly, every four years in a single-round first-past-the-post election with an election threshold of 5%.

Budapest is a capital of Hungary. The city is the political, administrative, industrial, and commercial centre of Hungary. The site has been continuously settled since prehistoric times and is now the home of about one-fifth of the country’s population.

Once called the “Queen of the Danube,” Budapest has long been the focal point of the nation and a lively cultural centre. The city straddles the Danube (Hungarian: Duna) River in the magnificent natural setting where the hills of western Hungary meet the plains stretching to the east and south. It consists of two parts, Buda and Pest, which are situated on opposite sides of the river and connected by a series of bridges.

Hungary has a lot of traditions, so we will present you the most interesting of them:

1.Advent Wreaths

In Hungary, the countdown to Christmas is marked by traditional advent wreaths. These beautiful holiday centerpieces feature four candles, representing faith, hope, joy, and love, nestled in a bed of pine branches and ribbon. A candle is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas, with the final candle lit on or Christmas Eve.

2.Luca day

Celebrated on December 13, Luca Day marks Hungary’s annual Winter Solstice. As the shortest day and longest night of the year, it was also the darkest and has traditionally been associated with witches and spirits. The Luca calendar marks the twelve days between Winter Solstice and Christmas, which were spent practicing a variety of folk traditions to ward off evil.

3.Love spells

One of Hungary’s most famous holiday folk traditions is the carving of the Luca Chair. Made of nine different types of wood, the Luca chair was to be carved by Christmas Eve. The hitch: Only one carving was permitted per day. Once the chair was complete, its maker would carry it to midnight mass, where it would give him a high enough vantage point to spot witches in the crowd. A Hungarian saying that lives on from this tradition is “Készül, mint a Luca széke” or “You are preparing it as slowly as a Luca Chair!”

Hungarians’ all-time favorite dish is unquestionably làngos: a deep-fried flatbread that is certainly something to avoid on a diet. Lángos (deriving from the word flame) is served as a satisfying alternative to bread. The origins of lángos are thought to be due to Turkish influence, while others believe it comes from the ancient Romans. What makes it so beloved is the endless varieties of toppings that come with it. It is usually eaten with garlic sauce, cheese, sour cream, or even sausages.

The legend of dobos torte started in 1885 when the Hungarian confectioner József C. Dobos introduced his pioneering cake at the National General Exhibition of Budapest. Dobos torte is among the most prominent Hungarian dishes, made from sponge cake layered with chocolate buttercream and topped with caramel. Both the technology, form and taste were amazing in their time. The main ingredient, the buttercream, was unknown and was used for the very first time. Dobos kept his recipe secret until his retirement, although now dobos torte has many more variations

The culture of Hungary varies greatly across Hungary. It includes varying folk crafts, such as embroidery, decorated pottery, and carvings. Hungarian music includes classical and baroque pieces along with folk music, modern pop, and Roma music. Noted Hungarian authors include Sándor Márai, Imre Kertész, Péter Esterházy, Magda Szabó and János Kodolányi. Imre Kertész is particularly noteworthy for having won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2002.

Ipolytarnoc Fossils are very rich find of Miocene fossils including a trunk of petrified pine which was some 100 m tall, remnants of 24 diverse species of sharks and remnants of many other organisms.

The Gellert Hill is a high hill that overlooks the Danube in Budapest. It was named after a saint who was pushed to death from the hill. The foot of the hill houses Gellert Baths and Hotel Gellert which are located next to the Bridge of Liberty. The Hill Cave is located within the hill which faces the Danube River and Hotel Gellert. The hillsides were earlier covered with vineyards and the region was an important wine-making center. Today, the region has turned into a prominent residential area with a number of ambassadorial residences lining the streets that wind up the hill. The area has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as the “Banks of the Danube”.

Here are some interesting cultural sights:

When you first set eyes on the spectacular Buda Castle in Budapest, you'll appreciate why so many people consider the city the "Paris of the East." This spectacular historic landmark-now a UNESCO World Heritage Site-ranks right up there with Versailles in terms of its majestic proportions and wonderful design.

Tihany is one of the most popular holiday resorts on Lake Balaton. Originally an island, this tiny peninsula-covering just eight square kilometers-boasts some of Hungary's most extraordinary scenery. Designated a nature reserve, the southwestern section is closed to traffic and is wonderful to explore on foot along the well-marked trail network.

Prepared by Plamen Rogachev and Nikolay Zaprqnov - 7a class