Budapest Winter Festival
Hungary, Budapest, Gőzölgő Festival, food, music, concerts, Erzsébet Square, cocktails, wines, Akvarium Klub, Hungarian cuisine, Pálinka, Kürtőskalács, mulled wine,
It is a constant in the Hungarian capital: its taste for festivals and cultural events. If spring brings together all lovers of music and the arts, in winter the city prepares for the Gőzölgő Festival, focusing on local cuisine and of course music.
While warming spirit with the sounds of bandscoming from all corners of the country or in neighboring Germany, you can taste the Hungarian delicacies and above all and especially, their spirits and wines. Best of all: access to the concerts are free.
Where?
The Gőzölgő Festival is celebrated in the Erzsébet Square (Erzsébet tér in case you have to find the place in the guide), named on behalf of Empress Elisabeth “Sissi”, Erzebet in Hungarian, and presided over by a beautiful fountain symbolizing the four rivers of Hungary. The square is in the 5th street, on the Pest side.
The Gőzölgő Festival is held during the last weekend of February. In 2013 will be from the 23 to the 26. The stalls are open from noon to 10 pm. In addition there are special exhibitions of experts cocktail makers, wines and hot drinks, typically between 4 and 6 pm. These tastings prepare the body for concerts at nightfall.
Who organizes it?
The Gőzölgő Budapest Festival is organized by Akvarium Klub, located in the Plaza Erzesébet, so do not miss it. The Akvarium is not a simple nightclub as it is a true cultural space with live concerts, dance classes and cultural programs that change weekly.
Located in a charming building, it t is one of those essential places of Budapest´s nightlife.
Hungarian Gastronomy
Of course, you have to enjoy live concerts and live ¡the evening, but the traveler can not miss good food and local wine´s tasting . You can try it and buy it to take it home. Write down the following names to not miss the best of this exquisite cuisine:
Pálinka. It is a spirituous liquor (with medicinal properties) made with native fruits and present in the Hungarian wineries from the late fifteenth century. Apricot can be (Barack), plum (Szilva), cherry (Cseresznye), pear (Korte) and specialties.
Kürtőskalács. It is a spiral-shaped cake originally from Transylvania. It takes a special oven to bake, so it´s a professional confectionery and is very difficult to do in a home. It is made with sugar, oil, flour and dried fruit.
Mulled wine. A classic of the area mixed with tea, coffee, fruit juices. It is also common to find flavored with cinnamon or ginger. If you like strong drinks, then you have to mix it with Pálinka.
And finally, remember that more than 100 varieties of coffee, tea, tea, sweets, wines, spirits and local delicacies come together in this winter festival.
Candela Vizcaíno
With this plan, you will go to your apartment in Budapest to go to bed and rest until the next day.
Popular Arts Festival in Budapest
One of the most special summer events in Budapest is its Popular Arts Festival (Mesterségek Ünnepe). Every year, in the second fortnight in August, the city celebrates St Stephens Day, patron of Hungary, and over 800 craftsmen and artists gather to entertain the 80,000 attendants. This is an event you cannot miss if you like discovering new traditions and the popular culture of the places you travel to.
The festival will take place between the 17th and 20th of August, and what distinguishes it and makes it special is that those who attend dont just have to chance to observe the best craftsmen of the country doing their work and then buying their finished items but also because theyre invited to participate and learn. For example, they can make a musical instrument, ceramic, work with a blacksmith, make embroidery, egg painting, etc.
If you travel with your family to Budapest, youll enjoy it in a special way because many of the programmed activities are thought for kids: puppet theatres, storytellers, rag doll making, making paper by hand, felt crafts, dancing… all of which with the aim of transmitting popular trades and traditions to the youngest ones in the family.
In each edition, the festival revolves around a certain subject and this year the subject is traditional dresses, with workshops where you can discover how old clothes were designed, create your own clothes and seeing the techniques of how traditional clothes were made, which are still used to make modern clothes.
This is a varied and lively programme that will also have music and popular dances during the night. The artists will dress up in traditional clothes and they will dance to music from different countries every night. Not only folk will be the main protagonist, but jazz and music from around the world as well as electronic music will also be part of the programme.
Gastronomy is another of the main stars of the festival, and you can try typical food and drinks of Hungarian medieval cuisine, such as homemade sweets, jams, cheeses, etc.
On the last day, August 20th, coinciding with St. Stephens Day, it will be the turn of the so-called bread blessing ceremony in front of St. Matthias Church. Bread is consecrated by the craftsmen on Clark Adam Street, who go on a parade around the Lánchíd (Chain Bridge) up to St. Stephens Basilica, where they celebrate mass and the cardinal blesses the bread. They carry on with the so-called Sacred Han Procession and the afternoon is rounded off with fireworks to close the festival.
This festival takes place around Buda Castle, one of the most beautiful places in Budapest, especially at night, when its completely lit-up. An old royal residence, it has suffered numerous restorations since its construction in the 14th century and its location, on a hill, offers spectacular views of the city. Inside, you can visit the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.
Elena Alvarez
To fully enjoy the Popular Arts Festival, book one of our apartments in Budapest in the old town. Youll be a stones throw from Buda Castle and you wont have to worry about timetables or transport.
What to Bring to a Music Festival
Budapest has a charm that you should not fail to discover this summer. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Budapest is bisected by the river Danube. The Buda area is more residential but it’s also where you will find the huge castle of Buda, facing the famous Hungarian parliament building. From the castle, you will have a clear view of all of Budapest, a city that was efficiently developed city that was organized during the nineteenth century. It’s a pretty flat city, which means it’s great for getting around by bicycle without much effort. If you are fond of bicycles, you can ride a bike around using the city’s bike lanes in various areas. Traffic is not a problem in this city; the buses, trams and metro are also efficient modes of transportation.
The heat in Budapest can, however, be quite intense during the summer. Moreover, in August, and especially if you’re going to the famous Sziget music festival, you must go well prepared. What are some of the most important things to bring to music festivals? Here is a short list that of things you shouldn’t forget for your visit to the Sziget festival:
A hat: Whether a light straw hat or sportier style, you should always wear something to cover your head during the summer. The sun can cause uncomfortable headaches and it will slow you down. During a festival, it is important that you cover yourself a little bit to protect your skin from the sun during the hours youll be standing in front of the stage. You can also use a light, colorful scarf or cloth that suits your style.
Earplugs: Sometimes, these ear protectors are available at the music festivals, where there are often stands that sell them. Before going to a major concert, make sure to bring a pair of these, because when a festival is very large the volume is very high and can damage your ears. You can buy earplugs at any music store.
An additional T-shirt: Sometimes the number of people at a festival and the close quarters in tight spaces and jumping during songs will make you sweat a bit more than usual. If you think it’s necessary, take along an extra T-shirt to change into so that you can avoid any discomfort or smelling bad. You may even avoid catching a cold from the rapid changes in body temperature.
Water: Water is essential for any music festival. Some festivals allow you to bring a bottle of water but others may not. If not, you should definitely buy water at the festival. Always have a little extra money on hand to buy some water. A cool beer will cool you off but it can also dehydrate. For more information about Budapest, go to this link: http://www.budapest.com/
Alexa Ray
Rent apartments in Budapest and enjoy the best outdoor music. Spending time in Budapest this summer can be a wonderful experience if youre looking to relax and explore new urban spaces.
Jewish Summer Festival in Budapest
Festivals can also be a way to maintain the spirit of an important cultural tradition and keep it alive. Not everything is the market, industry and noise this summer, there are also options, although a bit more classic and traditional, that grant you the opportunity to enjoy with other people a different culture, or maybe yours, and learn a bit more and even enjoy with the family.
Thats how, the Jewish Summer Festival has been taking place in Budapest since 1998 thanks to the organization of the Cultural Centre of Jewish Tourism which is in the city. The centre of all festivities is no less than the Synagogue on Dohany Street, possibly the biggest and most spectacular synagogue in Europe. The synagogue isnt just one of the most beautiful places to visit in Budapest but also an ancestral symbol of Jewish culture in the city. Much before they began to organize the festival, concerts already took place in this synagogue. However, it wasnt until they had the initiative of this festival that the synagogue became a true concert hall. As part of the organization of the festival, one has to highlight that in 2006 they inaugurated the synagogue on Rumbach Sebestyen street to the public, built by the Viennese architect Otto Wagner, and therefore attracting even more visitors and public in general.
At the festival, Jewish culture is represented by different performances, concerts, exhibitions, open air programmes for the younger ones, crafts, book market and other artistic forms. As the centre of all events, the musical genre Klezmer is put forward. Klezmer is a genre that comes from the Jewish-Hebrew tradition from Eastern Europe. This style is played by professional musicians called klezmorim. The genre consists especially in dance and instrumental pieces for weddings and other celebrations. Although the genre has its origins in Eastern Europe, this style in particular has been developed more and was made popular in the United States during the Yiddish Jews immigrations between 1880 and 1924. However, little is known about the true origins of this folkloric music which is so unique and cheerful.
With the years, the festival hasnt stopped growing and its still expanding. This years programme has renown international artists. Budapest is, undoubtedly, the best place for this type of festival. Its streets never cease to have an aura of light and charm during the summer. The walks in Budapest always become infinite and the options to have fun never end. This Jewish Summer Festival is just another occasion for which the city is visited by many more tourists, and not just Jewish ones. With every year that goes by, the city keeps becoming more and more cosmopolitan, without losing its traditional and romantic style. Maybe thats why this festival is so welcome here. For more information and programmes of this event, you can visit the festivals webpage and there you can also find information on tickets, artists and other activities.
http://www.zsidonyarifesztival.hu/
Alexa Ray
The best thing is to get apartments in Budapest and not miss out on the chance to be part of one of the most interesting festivals this summer. You can also meet beautiful people everywhere. Summer in Budapest is like a dream.
Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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Belá Bartók at the Palace of the Arts, Budapest
On the 25th of March, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra will commemorate the birthday of Hungarian musician Belá Bartók, as part of the Budapest Festival. The event pays homage to the great musician, and his cultural legacy, and the contribution to Hungarian music he made through his exploration of the folkloric music of his country, which made him a key figure of contemporary music, as well as the founder of ethnomusic.
Belá Bartók of Szuhafo was born in Nagyszentmiklós – the then part of Hungary which is today the Romanian Sannicolau Mare – in 1881. The son of a farmer and governess, he was moved around a lot as a child, after the death of his father – an experience which affected him profoundly, creating in him a strong sense of affinity with the sounds of folk music, and popular music which would go on to mark his profession and personal life.
His interest in the sad sounds of gypsy music took him to study at the Royal Academy of Music in Budapest, where he specialised in piano and composition. His first steps into the musical profession were to give piano concerts, and in 1905 he entered the prestigious Rubenstein piano competition, but was beaten by German pianist Wilhelm Backhaus. His interests soon turned towards composition inspired by Hungarian folk music.
Along with Zoltán Kodály, he began to study folkloric music passionately. The two set out on a journey with the basic equipment of an old phonograph and lined paper, with which they were going to record the sounds and popular styles of different villages. The influence of this project on his own work turned out to be immeasurable – it came to define his style, and allowed him to break away from the previous romantic music tradition, particularly that represented by Liszt, Brahms and Richard Strauss, musicians who he had initially sought to imitate.
Bartók revolutionalised contemporary music, and inspired new waves of musical creativity and experimentation during the first half of the 20th century, which up until that point had been based around the neo-classic styles of Stravinski. His musical works were a point of departure, towards a new, more original style, away from the grand concert halls, which was more experimental. This interest in new sounds took him beyond Hungarian folk music, and into investigations of the popular music of Slovakia, Romania, Turkey and the Arabic world.
He was a piano teacher, and co-director of the Budapest Music Academy, until in 1934 when he abandoned his duties in order to explore ethnomusic, perform recitals, and follow his creative instincts.
The Second World War forced him to take refuge in the United States, where Bartok encountered serious economic problems, made only worse by the leukemia which would eventually kill him. In spite of his tireless work, he left behind various incomplete compositions, such as Concerto for Piano Nº 3 and Concerto for viola.
Nancy Guzman
Budapest is music, joy, vast monuments and history, which is why the wonderful music festival cannot be missed if you are visiting Hungary. Rent one of the apartments in Budapest and complete the experience.
Translated by: Poppy
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