Ideas for a Hungarian Themed Party
Situated pretty much bang in the middle of Europe, Hungary has been a strategically important area for centuries. As such, it has had more than its fair share of
invasions over the years, resulting in an interesting mix of cultures, cuisines etc.
The "first Hungarians" were the Magyars, a nomadic people who first settled in what is now Hungary in about 800AD. Some of Hungary's modern day culture and language can
be traced back to those days, including the nation's famous goulash, a meaty soup which could easily be prepared in one pot over an open fire.
After the arrival of the Magyars, the country was heavily influenced over subsequent centuries by Italian, Turkish and Austrian/German cultures.
On the footballing front, Hungary are perhaps most famous for exporting rather than importing their culture. The famous
England vs Hungary 1953
match is an absolute classic, often referred to as the "Match of the Century", in which Hungary, led by their glamorous and talented captain Ferenc Puskás, demolished
a complacent England 6 - 3 at Wembley. Six months later, in the return fixture, they won 7 - 1, which still ranks as England's greatest ever defeat.
Hungary Party Decorations
Decorate yourself and your room with Hungary shirts, flags and scarves (see links, right).
If you're serving food, search for red, white and green table covers, napkins, plates, cups and
cutlery on our general
General Party Decorations Page
For bunting, flags, balloons and more
Hungarian Party Decorations Ideas,
visit our
European Flags & Decorations Page
As for colour schemes, in addition to the above ideas, anything else you can find in red, green and white will help create the right atmosphere.
Food for a Hungary Themed Party
While goulash (
gulyas) may be Hungary's most famous dish internationally, what many people think of as goulash probably owes more to other Hungarian dishes.
Authentic
gulyas is more of a soup than a stew, whereas the stew that most people refer to as goulash is actually closer to the Hungarian national dish "Pörkölt".
But there is much more to Hungarian cuisine than just goulash. The Turkish influence - stemming from their invasion of Hungary in the sixteenth century - brought spices, the most widely
used of which is paprika. Hungarians' love of pastry dishes and filo pastry in particular can also be traced back to this Turkish influence.
Hungarians as a rule eat a lot of meat, especially pork, beef and various kinds of sausage.
Try some of these next time you are throwing a Hungarian football party:
Savoury Recipes
Hungarian Beef Soup - Marha Gulyas
Hungarian Beef "Goulash" - Pörkölt
Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
Hungarian Warm Bacon & Potato Salad
Sweet Recipes
Hungarian Chocolate Mousse Cake - Sutemeny Rigo Jancsi
Hungarian Stacked Pancakes - Rakott Palacsinta
Drink for a Hungary Themed Party
There area plenty of options drinks-wise when
throwing a Hungarian football party. Although beer is popular, there is more of a wine culture in Hungary,
and wine - especially the locally produced red and sweet wines - are drunk with most meals.
There is a definite cafe culture, with bars and cafes being popular meeting places, serving
wine and coffee to abundant customers. Coffee tends to be drunk in small, strong portions, espresso style, although other options are available if you ask.
Two locally produced spirits are very popular. Pálinka is a strong brandy-like drink distilled from different types of fruit; apricot, pear and plum are the most common
varieties. Unicum
is a strongly flavoured herb-based drink, seen by many as the country's national drink, but it is something of an acquired taste!
