National pride
A few days ago Tárki, a polling company, together with Image Factory, a firm offering “political and business solutions,” looked into the question of national pride and the nation’s self image.
Three years ago 40% of all Hungarians were proud of being Hungarian. Today, only 32%.
This question of national pride has always puzzled me. Where we are born and what language we learn as infants is really happenstance. Something over which we have no control. Why anyone should feel pride because of it is beyond me. Especially if we try to flesh out the basis of this pride. Read more »
Quality of a Leader
Where will the Hungarian soul take the nation from this point forward?
Hungarians have used their freedom to change governments well. In the second half of the 20th century Hungarians had very few opportunities to change governments. Since the change from the long time communist government Read more »
Are Hungarians Antisemitic?
One of the things I discovered without looking for it was that in conversation about money, many Hungarians would complain about Jews. My first question was “why?”
This led me to do some research on the history of the relationship between Hungarians and Jews. Read more »
Payback Ethic
One Hungarian value that this author and many foreigners noticed was something called the payback ethic. Throughout the world people will treat others in return the way they are treated, but Hungarians seem to take this farther than others. One person said, “It is hard to do a favor for Hungarians Read more »
“Women Scandalously Dressed”
Two missionaries felt that Hungarians have a spiritual crisis in sentimental relationships. Overplayed sexual overtones Read more »
Obsession with the Past, Racism, Violence
A British diplomat brought out the Hungarian historical memory saying, “Why are they so obsessed with themselves and their sad history? They keep talking about Trianon as if it was yesterday, he said.” Read more »
Does God Play Games with Us?
The Austrian Army officers clinked their glasses of beer as they drank to celebrate the execution of the Hungarian patriots who fought for freedom. It is no wonder that Hungarians do not clink their beer glasses when they toast each other’s health! Read more »
Where was God, When My Child Died?
“He punished us for our sins, past and future.” - this is a quote from the Hungarian National Anthem written in the 19th century. Hungarians hold on to this particular theology to this day.
I hadn’t seen one of my Hungarian friends for a while and as we met I asked, “How are you?” Americans treat this question as a greeting, and regardless of how they are doing, usually answer, “Fine.” Read more »
Popular Theology: Common Beliefs About God in Hungary
The most famous Hungarian theological statement is the National Hymn- “God bless the Hungarian.” Theology simply means, “Ideas regarding God.” And this work contains lots of theology, which is recited by many Hungarians more times than they say the Lord’s prayer. Read more »
Rebuilt, and Rebuilt Again
In the mid 70’s I had a colleague in university named Bill Dabas. He used to drink a certain ice tea that came in a green can (He used to collect the cans so we could say Dabas liked to collect the Doboz [Hungarian for can] as a little play on words). He would stack the cans against the wall of his dormitory room. Read more »
Hungarian is a way of life
Hungarians have never built pyramids, ruled slave empires, and conquered new worlds. They are a proud, strange and lonely people.
Read more »
Hungarian Humanism
How does humanism reveal itself in Hungarian history and civilization?
Hungarians have always been known for their thirst for knowledge: an important humanistic attribute. Their attitude towards foreign cultures has always been that of sympathetic curiosity: they accepted their inspiration and adapted them to their own tastes. Read more »
Keeping One’s Given Word
Personal and national honor or integrity is a cardinal virtue in the Hungarian moral spectrum. Keeping one’s given word is an obligation overriding most other considerations, including political expediency. This is why the Hungarians never changed sides during international conflicts, however advantageous it may have been to do so. Read more »
Defenders of Christian Europe?
Hungarians like calling themselves the “Defenders of Christian Europe’ for having fought the eastern and southern pagan aggressors for a thousand years. Read more »
Living on the Borderlines of Europe
Where do the fundamental traits of the different European cultures come from?
The dotted lines on the map of Europe are in many cases the product of historical accident: primarily acts of violence, but also dynastic marriages or sheer happenstance. Still, our frontiers rarely conform to the cultural realities. Read more »
Knowledge: Quality of Life
Knowledge means quality of life (the life we can only live once), gives the person a feeling of competence, and carries the hope of future.
Knowledge is highly valued is Hungarian society, but in the young generation, a materialistic value-system is developing due to the social and existential crisis in Central-Eastern Europe.
Knowledge is also seen as a tool for Hungarian society to be able to compete in the world arena. Science is the 4th element of power in the world today (after military power / force, economy / money, and media / information).
Authority and Leadership: The Ideal Boss in Hungary
International businessmen and missionaries alike typically come with the misconception that Hungary (as a CEE country) must be a high-authority, hierarchic society, and try to work under this assumption. Read more »
Woody Allen and the Hungarian Psyche
Hungarians easily identify with Woody Allen who said:
“I have a persecution complex – because I’m persecuted.”
Read more »
What Friendship Means
Introducing someone as a “friend” communicates more commitment to the Hungarian than what you probably mean using this word, especially if you come from the North American culture. Read more »
The Little Prince and the Fox
It was then that the fox appeared.
“Good morning,” said the fox.
“Good morning,” the little prince responded politely, although when he turned around he saw nothing.
“I am right here,” the voice said, “under the apple tree.”
“Who are you?” asked the little prince, and added, “You are very pretty to look at.” Read more »
Hungarian Culture: Why it is as it is?
Hungarian culture (due to its location and history) has always been at the crossroads between eastern and western cultures, has functioned as a bridge between East and West, integrating characteristic features of both. What is Hungarian culture like? Read more »
How They Tell You’re Smart
Cross cultural comparisons in the areas of geography, national history, values, faith and religion, adaptability to change, making a difference, the measures of success, wearing social walls, signs of bright-mindedness, behavior toward foreigners.
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Spiritual Climate
The people of Budapest tend to be receptive when time is taken to establish personal credibility and trust. Street evangelism tends to repel people where no prior relationship exists. Freedom to cross-denominational boundaries (whether real or perceived) is not granted easily by one’s family or even one’s own conscience. The respect for denominational tradition is a real issue. Read more »
Christian Heritage?
Christianity was first introduced to the Magyar people through a pact made by King István with the Vatican in 1000 AD. After officially declaring Hungary to be a Christian nation in order to form closer political ties to the growing West, people were given the choice to convert to Christianity or forfeit their lives.
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Religious Affiliaton of Hungarians
Cultural Catholic Christianity is the stated traditional religion of the people in Budapest. The years of Communism (1949 - 1989) had quite an affect on the mentality of the modern-day Hungarian.
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Roots of Hungarian Character
The Hungarian Character
We shall find it easier to understand the history and civilization of the Hungarians, if we look at first at some interesting traits of their national character.
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