Hungarian American Coalition News, 2000 (9. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2000 / 1. szám
Hungarian American Coalition March 2000 Vol. 9, No. 1 CELEBRATING THE HUNGARIAN MILLENIUM: ONE THOUSAND YEARS OF NATIONHOOD On January 1, 2000, the Holy Crown of St. Stephen was transferred in a solemn ceremony from the National Museum to the Hungarian Parliament. Thus began the celebration of Hungary's Millenium, making 1,000 years of nationhood. President Árpád Göncz referred to the Crown "as a symbol of continuity of the state of Hungary." Prime Minister Orbán spoke of history as a "giant river of time" as he recalled Hungary's survival against overwhelming odds through centuries of struggle, subjugation and sacrifice. Throughout those years the Hungarian Crown served as a living symbol of the nation's will, unity and legitimacy. "It was the Holy Crown that created the opportunity for Hungary to join Europe 1,000 years ago, and as such is better seen as a living symbol of the state and national unity than as a museum relic," the Prime Minister declared. In addition to a series of official celebrations hosted by the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, DC, Hungarian American communities all over the United States, including many Coalition member organizations, plan to organize festive events for this Special Year of the Millenium. A list of visiting artists from Hungary will be kept at the Coalition's office, in the hope of coordinating invitations so they can participate in more than one Millenium event. New York Governor George E. Pataki was the first to greet Hungary's Millenium with a proclamation in January, a copy of which is available at the Coalition Office. All Coalition organizations are encouraged to seek similar proclamations from their state governor. MARCH 15, 1848 COMMEMORATED The Hungarian holiday of March 15 honors the ideals and heroes of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence, when Hungarians tried to throw off Austrian rule. Although the Revolution was crushed when the Austrians asked for help from the Russian Czar, it eventually led to the Compromise of 1867, which created the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary. Since the fall of communism in Hungary in 1990, March 15th is fully celebrated as a historic precursor to the Revolution and Freedom Fight in 1956, when once again, Hungarian revolutionaries fought for the independence of their country, this time from Soviet imposed communist rule.
