site.bta"Hungarikums" Exhibition on Hungarian Presidency of EU Council Opens in Sofia

An exhibition titled Hungarikums opened Monday in Sofia's Crystal Garden on the occasion of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). Hungary took over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from Belgium on July 1, 2024.

The exhibition presents 28 panels of the Hungarikum Collection, including selected treasures revealing the spiritual, cultural and material goods created by Hungarians.   

The exhibition was opened by Hungary's Ambassador to Bulgaria, Miklos Boros. "Obviously everyone here knows a lot about Hungary and Budapest. It is well known, for instance, that goulash soup, Herend Porcelain and the Rubik's Cube, chosen as the symbol of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of Europe, are associated with Hungary. But did you know that there is a legal concept that is a collective term for specific Hungarian values, the so-called Hungarikums, representing the spiritual, cultural and material goods created by Hungarians?" Boros said.

Among the Hungarikums in the exhibition are those related to gastronomy, cultural heritage, sports, environment, innovation and tourism. There are well-known ones, but there will also be some that will surprise the visitors. "That was exactly our goal, to introduce you to the multifaceted Hungarian culture, which enriches the European one," the Hungarian Ambassador added.

The director of the Hungarian Cultural Institute Sandra Miskedi said that the theme of the exhibition was chosen to get visitors even better acquainted with Hungary. To present them important elements of Hungarian culture, that are part of Hungarians’ everyday life.

Sofia Deputy Mayor for Culture, Education, Sport, and Youth Activities Yana Genova congratulated the organizers of the event for choosing to present Hungary in this way. "Not only through the cultural heritage, but also through the living traditions, through that part of Hungary's contribution that is still a part of the great European culture and through Hungary's links with the big European family," Genova said.

"I hope this will also be a way for the young people of Sofia to find out what the Presidency of the Council of the European Union means because the exhibition is on this occasion," Genova added.