
How the socialist food industry reformed everyday life in Hungary
The ‘modern’ diet
The second half of the 20th century saw major changes in food consumption worldwide: new types of ready and ready-to-cook meals, frozen and canned goods appeared on the shelves transforming daily life. Although in the West these new technologies boosted the lucrative character of food production and food commerce, in the Eastern Bloc the innovations were praised as bringing the promise of a flawless and perfectly planned socialist economy and of a standardised daily life.

Weekly Fortepan – The untold success story of the cyclists in the countryside
A little Amsterdam on the Great Hungarian Plain
In the minds of most Hungarians, bicycle riding is associated with the Netherlands or Denmark. In fact, it has a long tradition in Hungary, too, and – thanks to the cyclists of the countryside – Hungary is one of the top bicycle-riding countries in ...

Holocaust survivor receives Hungarian honour
Lily Ebert, a 98-year-old Hungarian survivor of the Holocaust living in London, has been decorated with Hungary's Order of Merit, Knight's Cross, in recognition for her efforts in Holocaust education.
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Two-time Olympic champion gymnast Margit Korondi dies aged 88
Two-time Olympic champion Hungarian gymnast Margit Korondi has died at the age of 88, her former teammate Alice Kertesz told the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) in agreement with the family of the deceased.

Weekly Fortepan – Even colours are different in the West
The death agony of capitalism in colour photos
Passing by Hegyeshalom border village between Austria and Hungary, colours get a different shade. Upon leaving the border and the monotone greyness of the Comecon, colour pigments heighten, neon lights pull you in and lip gloss becomes lively on women’s lips – even though ...

Not your average expat
‘Pioneer’ Japanese pianist is at home in Budapest
Foreigners the world over may find they feel happier in their adoptive countries than they did in their homelands. The explanations are various: from climate to culture, and from work opportunities to a personal rapport with the locals.

Good Friday service in English
Good Friday is one of the most important and solemn days of the Christian calendar, commemorating the death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. The Anglican Community of Saint Margaret's, Budapest, will honour the day with a special service, or liturgy, at 12.30 CET, lasting ...

Teachers, children reel from full horrors of war
Even three years ago when I was last at the Key-School in outer Kyiv there was still a continual fear of an enemy at the gate. Life was relatively safe but the threat remained of further Russian aggression against Ukraine. Now all-out war has ...

Weekly Fortepan – Summer camps the Hungarian way
World Scout jamborees in Gödöllő in the 1930s
Chief Scouts, royal princesses and governors followed in each other’s heels in the Royal Palace Parks of Gödöllő in the 1930s: Hungary hosted two large-scale world Scout jamborees in that period, one of them took place in the summer of the fateful year of ...

Help refugees while investing into a sustainable future
Two Hungarian non-profit online platforms have paired up with the combined aim of helping refugees from war-torn Ukraine while promoting activities helpful to the stressed world environment.

Weekly Fortepan – Great discoveries from letters sent in
‘Those are my grandparents!’
From time to time, the editors at Fortepan are moved by the letters from readers who took the effort to write down the story behind a particular Fortepan photo or by messages from people writing to tell that they have recognised a family member, ...
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Weekly Fortepan – The untold success story of the cyclists in the countryside
A little Amsterdam on the Great Hungarian Plain
In the minds of most Hungarians, bicycle riding is associated with the Netherlands or Denmark. In fact, it has a long tradition in Hungary, too, and – thanks to the cyclists of the countryside – Hungary is one of the top bicycle-riding countries in ...

Two-time Olympic champion gymnast Margit Korondi dies aged 88
Two-time Olympic champion Hungarian gymnast Margit Korondi has died at the age of 88, her former teammate Alice Kertesz told the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) in agreement with the family of the deceased.

Holocaust survivor receives Hungarian honour
Lily Ebert, a 98-year-old Hungarian survivor of the Holocaust living in London, has been decorated with Hungary's Order of Merit, Knight's Cross, in recognition for her efforts in Holocaust education.
Most commented articles People

Budapest Central European Fashion Week attracts nearly 12,000 visitors
Events of the annual Budapest Central European Fashion Week, held online for the second time this year, attracted nearly 12,000 visitors between March 25 and 28, the Hungarian fashion and design agency MDDU said on Monday.

Not your average expat
‘Pioneer’ Japanese pianist is at home in Budapest
Foreigners the world over may find they feel happier in their adoptive countries than they did in their homelands. The explanations are various: from climate to culture, and from work opportunities to a personal rapport with the locals.

Not your average expat
“This is about a lifestyle”
The reasons for leaving an established way of life in your home country and becoming an expat are many: careers and relationships probably heading the list. However, to be in your 50s, where neither of these motivations provide the explanation, whilst relocating to a ...