Nándorfehérvár Victory Memorial Days 2023
Alexander von Wagner: The Self- Sacrifice of Titusz Dugovics. Oil on canvas, Hungarian National Gallery. Image via Wikimedia Commons
The 18th Nándorfehérvár Victory Memorial Days will be held this Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, in Szeged.
"Medieval atmosphere, preservation of traditions, cultural programs, a fair, and lots of fun await you at the Nándorfehérvár Memorial Days!" — reads the organizer's announcement on Facebook.
Szeged's only medieval festival starts on Friday at the visitor center of the Votive Church with a panel discussion and a concert. Saturday's program starts with a parade from Klauzál Square to Mátyás Square, where interactive games, a handicraft market, art and handicraft workshops, medieval dance and music performances, as well as weapon and military displays, await visitors. The event ends with a fire juggler performance.
Program:
Friday, July 21, Votive Church Visitor Center
17:00 - Panel talk with Hungarian-Moroccan singer and researcher of Hungarian and Middle Eastern early music Guessous Majda Mária (Meshi) (in Hungarian)
18:30 - Guessous Majda Mária Trio album-release concert
Saturday, July 22
9:30 - Gathering at Klauzál Square
10:00 - Costume parade with musicians, drummers, and flag throwers. Route: Klauzál Square - Dugonics Square - Szentháromság Street - Mátyás Square
At Mátyás Square:
10:30 - Performance of the Pavane flag throwers
11:00 onwards - Buhurt (armored combat) with competition judges, supported by the Hungarian Soft Buhurt Championship
11:00 - Performance of the Hunyadiak Örökében Historical Tradition-preserving Association
11:30 - Medieval weapon and military display
12:30 - Display of firearms
13:00 - Live medieval military camps, squire training
16:30 - Performance of the Hunyadiak Örökében Association
17:00 - Medieval weapon and military display
17:30 - The Buda Dog Fair - puppetry show with music
19:00 - Medieval dances with the Hunyadiak Örökében Association
19:30 - Smyrna Band concert with medieval Hungarian, Western European, and Turkish music
21:00 - Fire Fantasy fire juggler group
The Nándorfehérvár Victory Memorial Days pay tribute to János Hunyadi's victory — also known as the siege of Belgrade — over the Turks on July 22, 1456, when the Hungarian armies led by Hunyadi defeated the armies of the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II. In 2011, the National Assembly of Hungary declared the day a commemorative day of the victory at Nándorfehérvár.
