Our international students enjoyed an afternoon of Hungarian culture, traditional activities and local flavours during a special St. Martin’s Day visit to the Sóstó Museum Village.
On 7 November, a group of international students from the University of Nyíregyháza, accompanied by the International Relations Office, visited the Sóstó Museum Village to celebrate St. Martin’s Day and discover a little more about Hungary's cultural heritage.
The open-air museum provided the perfect setting for the occasion. With its traditional buildings, historic interiors and carefully preserved objects, the village offered the students a glimpse into rural Hungarian life as it was more than a century ago.
The afternoon was filled with activities that brought the past to life. After exploring the village and its historic buildings, the students had the opportunity to try traditional folk games and take part in folk dancing, learning a few of the steps along the way. They also experienced what education used to look like in a village school, sitting through a traditional lesson complete with blackboards, chalk and the strict classroom rules of the time.
Another interesting stop was the old-fashioned pharmacy, where the participants prepared their own scented creams, offering a hands-on introduction to traditional pharmacy practices.
The visit also included a lively market featuring local producers and small businesses. The stalls offered a variety of regional products, from honey and pickled delicacies to sweets and handmade wooden puzzles. Naturally, the students also had the chance to sample some Hungarian favourites, including freshly prepared lángos and herbal tea.
One of the final activities brought a creative touch to the celebration: each participant decorated their own traditional lantern in keeping with the St. Martin’s Day festivities.
St. Martin’s Day, celebrated on 11 November in Hungary, is associated with several folk traditions and customs, including lantern processions, seasonal foods and the welcoming of winter. The visit offered our students an opportunity not only to learn about these traditions but also to become part of the celebration themselves.
For the international students of the University of Nyíregyháza, the afternoon was a chance to step outside the classroom, explore local history and experience Hungarian culture through participation, creativity and shared moments.
The International Relations Office would like to thank all the students who joined the programme and helped make the afternoon such an enjoyable occasion!