Republic Day in Hungary

Posted by Amanda Kendle Oct 23, 2006

The meaning of October 23 in Hungary began back in 1956, when a peaceful student demonstration began what became known as the Hungarian Uprising. Demands for an end to Soviet occupation were made and the liberalisation of Hungary slowly began. 20,000 people lost their lives - mostly during the Soviet intervention in the week that followed. The communists remained, but over the next decades their policies gradually overhauled the economy and by the late 1980s, anti-communist activists were ready to complete Hungary's transformation.

That's when October 23 comes in again: after the communist party dissolved, the new Hungarian Republic was officially declared on October 23, 1989. We know the rest of the story: the Iron Curtain fell and the Berlin Wall tumbled, and that's why we can travel freely in these fascinating countries today.