May Day in Budapest used to be a major holiday of the Communist Party. Large procession of factory workers in from of the tribune of the communist leaders, followed by beer and frankfurter in the City Park marked 1st May a couple of decades ago.
Today political parties still use May Day/Labor Day to advertise their programs and recruit followers, but luckily 1st May – Labor Day has become a family day with a range of festivals and programs in the capital, and other towns of Hungary. There is a huge open air “majalis’ – party – in City Park, Budapest. On countryside erecting ‘Maytree’ – a long bar decorated with colourful ribbons and flowers – is still a practized folkcustom.
