The joy of Hungary

Right from the beginning many Hungarian groups living beyond the borders participated in the Future of Europe International Children and Youths Meeting. Representatives from Máramarossziget, Transylvania have been coming to every Festival since 1991. Already in 1991 five Hungarian groups from beyond the borders and two years later eight such groups only from Slovakia participated. In 1995 and 2000 five and seven groups respectively came from Transylvania to perform on the Main Square, and besides, Hungarian children came from the former Yugoslavia too. Throughout the years we had the pleasure to welcome Hungarian children from such surprising countries as the Netherlands and the United States.

During a decade nearly fifty Hungarian groups living beyond the borders came to celebrate with Csipero and enjoy the hospitality and care of the mother country.

Thus in the year 2000 the Future of Europe Association created a separate programme and named it 'The Joy of Hungary'. On its foundation the purpose of the programme was to enable youngsters from beyond the borders to get to know each other and the host families in Kecskemét better, and to have them participate in programmes that enhances their awareness of being Hungarian.

As part of this programme in 2000 the replica of the Hungarian Crown was brought to Kecskemét on the VII. Future of Europe International Children and Youths Meeting. The replica of the Hungarian Holy Crown and those of the Crown Jewels were displayed in the Great Church for a day and many of the guests and also tourist went to see them. In 2000 'The Joy of Hungary' programme had its closing ceremony in the Szent Imre catholic school and the participants commemorated the millennium of the foundation of the Hungarian state by lighting fires.