National symbols of Hungary
Encyclopedia
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s or cultural expressions that are emblematic, representative or otherwise characteristic of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
or Hungarian culture
Culture of Hungary
The culture of Hungary has a distinctive style of its own in Hungary, diverse and varied, starting from the capital city of Budapest on the Danube, to the Great Plain bordering Ukraine. Hungary was formerly one half of Austria-Hungary. Hungary has a rich folk tradition, for example: embroideries,...
. Additionally, highly valued special Hungarian products, symbols have a special name, those can be called Hungaricum.
Flags and heraldy
The flag of HungaryFlag of Hungary
The flag of Hungary is a horizontal tricolour of red, white and green. In this exact form, it has been the official flag of Hungary since October 1, 1957.-Origin:...
is a horizontal tricolour
Tricolour
A tricolour is a flag or banner more-or-less equally divided into three bands of differing colours...
of red, white and green. The coat of arms of the Árpád dynasty
Árpád dynasty
The Árpáds or Arpads was the ruling dynasty of the federation of the Hungarian tribes and of the Kingdom of Hungary . The dynasty was named after Grand Prince Árpád who was the head of the tribal federation when the Magyars occupied the Carpathian Basin, circa 895...
is also popular.
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Flora and fauna
Almost a fifth of the country is forested, however only 10 percent is natural forest. Hungary is home to some 2200 flowering plant species and, because of its topography and transitional climate, many of them are not normally found at this latitude. Much of the flora in the Villány and Mecsek HillsMecsek
Mecsek is a mountain range in southern Hungary. It is situated in the Baranya region, in the north of the city of Pécs.-Geography:The mountains cover an area of approximately 500 km². The highest peak in the mountain range is Zengő , which has an elevation of 682 metres...
in Southern Transdanubia, for example, is usually seen only around Mediterranean. Here, at the southern Szársomlyó Hill of Villány Mountains
Villány Mountains
Villány Mountains is a relatively low mountain range located west from the town of Villány, in Baranya county, Southern Hungary.Its highest summit, the Szársomlyó is just 442 metres high. The latter has an extraordinary flora: on its southern slopes, the climate is mediterranean; the percentage...
, a formerly unknown plant was found and described for science in 1867 by the Hungarian botanist, Viktor Janka. This flower is the earliest blooming Hungarian flower, the Hungarian crocus, Colchicum hungaricum.
The salty Hortobágy region on the Eastern Plain
Alfold
Alfold is small village and civil parish on the Surrey/West Sussex border in England. The parish clerk is Mrs L.R. Enticknap.Originally sited perhaps for the glass making . Charcoal was extensively burnt in the parish for gunpowder works in Dunsfold, Cranleigh, and Sussex.Alfold is not mentioned in...
has many plants normally found by the seashore, and the Nyírség area is famous for meadow flowers. The Gemenc
Gemenc
Gemenc is a unique forest that is found between Szekszárd and Baja, in Hungary. This is the only remaining tidal area of the Danube in Hungary. The wood's fauna include stags, boars, storks, grey herons, gyrfalcons, meadow eagles, and kites. Various amphibians and reptiles can also be found...
forest on the Danube near Szekszárd
Szekszárd
Szekszárd is a city in Hungary and the capital of Tolna county. By population, Szekszárd is the smallest county capital in Hungary; by area, it is the second smallest -Location:...
, the Little Balaton in the centre of Transdanubia and the Tisza river backwater east of Kecskemét are all important wetlands. Most of the trees in the nation's forested areas are deciduous (beech, oak and birch) only a small percentage are fir. Since the 14th century, over 250 new plants colonized Hungary, of which almost 70 are considered invasive. Many such plants are perennial herbs, that have taken root on plants, causing some of the native flora to slowly disappear.
Historically, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
was the second largest supplier of paprika to the USA. Hungarian paprika has a distinctive flavour and is it great demand in Europe where it is used as a spice rather than as a colouring agent.
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People
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Food and drink
The traditional Hungarian dishes abound in piquant flavors and aromas. Dishes are flavorful, spicy and often rather heavy. Flavors of Hungarian dishes are based on centuries-old traditions in spicing and preparation methods. The exquisite ingredients are produced by local agricultural and husbandry. Paprika, onion and garlic are to be found everywhere. In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the fish soup was the most popular and the most lovely fishmeal in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. A cookery book from 1860 contains 400 fish recipes. The most well-known specialities of Hungarian cuisine such as goulash
Goulash
Goulash is a soup or stew of meat, noodles and vegetables , seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is also a popular meal in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli Venezia...
soup, the different varieties of stew and "paprikas" are red with paprika.
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See also
- HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
- List of Hungarian dishes
- National Historical Memorial Park of ÓpusztaszerNational Historical Memorial Park of ÓpusztaszerThe National Historical Memorial Park is a memorial park and open-air museum of Hungarian history in Ópusztaszer, Hungary. It was established in 1982 and is most famous for being the location of the Feszty Panorama, a cyclorama depicting the arrival of the Hungarians to the Carpathian Basin in 895....