Fête nationale de la Hongrie 2016

• October 23rd is a national holiday in Hungary commemorating the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, also known as the Hungarian Uprising of 1956. Sixty years ago today, on the heels of Poland’s rebellion, students and workers took to the streets of Budapest, and a spontaneous national revolt against Soviet rule erupted. The movement was suppressed on November 4th with the arrival of Soviet tanks in Budapest.
  For three decades, public discussion of the uprising was silenced. That changed in 1989 with the fall of communism in eastern Europe and the official declaration of Hungary as a republic.
  As the tricolor red, white, and green flag is raised today in Budapest’s Kossuth Square, Hungarians pay tribute to the brave citzens who fought for Hungary’s liberty. Patriotic speeches will fill the air, and celebrations will include folk music, dancing, and cultural events.
  Today’s Doodle depicts Hungary’s flag with a hole where the Soviet-style communist symbol was once displayed. Excised by the revolutionaries, the emblem-less flag has became an enduring symbol of freedom in Hungary.