National Symbols of Hungarians and their Narratives

Abstract

This contribution deals with the most important symbols of the collective self for Hungarians and the changing narratives associated with these signs. The constitutional, symbolic, and political significance of these symbols is described and analyzed. More specifically:

1. State symbols – in detail: the state coat of arms in the past and present; national colours and national flags; St.Stephen’s crown and its constitutional, ritual, and symbolic meanings; the coronation coat, the king’s sceptre, the imperial orb and the coronation sword as well as the Hungarian national anthem, the “call”, and the “national song”;

2. Religious and Mythical symbols – in detail: the right hand of King Stephen; the concept of “Regnum Marianum” respected in Hungary as a country of Our Lady; the mythical bird “Turul”, and finally,

3. The Old-Hungarian runic writing.
Generally, in present-day Hungary, a return to historical events and personalities is dominating the symbolic representation of the self; it serves as a means to create a new-old identity. Since the political turn there has been a big need for this attitude given that during the decades of communist dictatorship, looking back into the past was only possible from an ideologically restricted corner.

The symbols introduced show the processional nature of collective or national symbols whose paths of tradition not only do not proceed in a straight line, but have undergone numerous changes and breaks. Their interpretations depend on numerous political, social, and other factors as well as ongoing developments. Even the contemporaneousness of the non-contemporaneous can be seen.