Unique Hungarian Culture & Communities Across the Region
The turmoil of 20th-century history transformed the ethnic and religious character not only of Hungary, but also of the entire region. The peace treaty that brought the First World War to a close deprived the country of much of its former diversity. As a result of the treaty, Hungary lost more than two-thirds of its territory and nearly 60% of its population, while many groups of ethnic Hungarians found themselves living in newly created successor states. The dramatic loss of life that accompanied World War II, the half-million people swept away by the Holocaust, the phenomenon of ethnic cleansing, and the tremendous movements of people that followed the war (e.g. the deportation of Germans, the forced mutual relocations of ethnic minorities) all combined to alter the ethnic structure of the entire Carpathian Basin.
Throughout the 1100 years of its history, Hungary, situated at the geographic centre of Europe, has absorbed many of the cultural influences. This helps explain why, by the 19th-20th century, Hungarian folk culture had developed numerous easily distinguishable regional – or even local – variations, including a rich, colorful array of dialects, costumes, decorative arts, home furnishings and architectural styles, dietary habits, farming practices, folk music and dance, poetry, customs, and behavior.
Special regions and ethnic communities
Hungarians continue to live as minorities in all of the countries that currently border Hungary: Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria. In many cases, unique and beautiful Hungarian traditions remain. In these areas where Hungarians live in minority, they are often discriminated against. In many cases, this makes it all the more important for Hungarians to hold tight to certain traditions and pass them on to the next generation, even more so than in Hungary itself. Here are some examples of these special regions and ethnic communities:
Transylvania (Romania)

The Szeklers
The Szekler or Szekely Hungarians are an ethnic group with a distinct cultural and historical identity, primarily inhabiting the region of Szeklerland in present-day Romania. The origins of the Szeklers can be traced back to the medieval period when Hungarian settlers began migrating into Transylvania, a region located in the heart of Eastern Europe. The exact origins of the Szeklers are still debated among historians and scholars. Over time, the Szeklers developed a unique culture and maintained their distinct identity despite various political changes and historical events. Today, they are recognized as an important ethnic minority within Romania, and despite the Romanian government thwarting several attempts since 2006 for the Szeklers to regain autonomy, there are grassroots revivals of the unique Szekler culture which aim to retain the region’s identity.
The Csángó
The Csángó Hungarians are an ethnic group with a unique cultural and linguistic heritage, primarily residing in the eastern part of present-day Romania, in Moldova. The Csángó community is composed of ethnic Hungarians who have preserved their distinct traditions and dialect, a variation of the Hungarian language. The origins of the Csángó Hungarians are complex and multifaceted. Historically, they are believed to be descendants of medieval Hungarian settlers who migrated to the region centuries ago. Over time, the Csángós developed their own cultural practices, including folk dances, music, and rituals, which are deeply rooted in their Hungarian heritage. Despite facing challenges and assimilation pressures, the Csángó Hungarians have managed to maintain their cultural identity, passing down their traditions from generation to generation.
Pentecost Pilgrimage and the Shrine Of Csíksomlyó
The Pentecost Pilgrimage of Csíksomlyó is the largest religious event of Hungarian Christians and Catholics in the Carpathian Basin. The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage and the local sacred rites have a history that goes back hundreds of years. The Csángós (Hungarians from Moldova) appeared in Csíksomlyó in the 18th century. In the 19th century, thanks to the development of the roads and railroad network, more and more people had the opportunity to take part in the pilgrimage. Each year during Pentecost, tens of thousands of pilgrims flood the center of the Csík Basin and the roads that lead to Csíksomlyó. According to tradition the village-based groups called, in Hungarian, ’keresztalja’ march to Csíksomlyó from villages all around the pilgrimage site carrying banners with images of their village’s patron saint.
Gyimes
Between the Ciuc/Csik basin and Moldavia, the Csángó Hungarians of Gyimes live in the snowy passes of the Gyimesi Straights in the Carpathian mountains of Transylvania. Living in the narrow valleys alongside the tributaries of the Tatros/Trotuș river, their villages lie along the long stretches of the streams with houses scattered further up the mountains. Originally owned by five Szekler villages, the land was populated and leased for grazing to Transylvania and Moldavia from the 17th and 18th centuries. The people primarily made a living from alpine livestock farming and logging. Due to the isolation of the area and the lifestyle of the old Gyimes Szekler people, a more archaic culture was preserved until recent decades and can be seen through the material environment of the region: in the costumes, music, dance, customs and folklore.

Kalotaszeg
Kalotaszeg in Transylvania is one of the most famous and important ethnographic landscapes for Hungarian culture. Kalotaszeg has produced the highest amount in virtually all styles of Hungarian peasant art from costumes to embroidery, carving to building styles; music to dance. The cultural heritage from this region greatly impacted society at the end of the 19th century, with artists, scientists and aristocrats hugely influenced by the reputation of these folk traditions. These art forms were subsequently recognised by the royal court at the time. In spite of modernisation, these local traditions remained until very recently.
Vojvodina (Serbia)
Bácska/Bačka
Bácska is the term used to refer to the vast expanse of lands that had made up Bács-Bodrog county for many centuries. The Trianon treaty, which rearranged Hungary´s borders after World War I, awarded all but the northern strip of this territory to the new Southern Slav state that emerged in the wake of the dissolution of Austria-Hungary and so the far larger share of this historic region is today part of Serbia.The inhabitants of the area are a colorful mix of cultures. Here, Germans, Croats, Serbs have coexisted for centuries with Hungarians, who include several waves of Szekler migrants from Transylvania. Hungarian folk tradition refers to the „treasures of Bácska”. Its sub-mediterranean climate, great environmental qualities including the richness of the soil and the many cultures that have found a home here have made it famously rich. By the late 19th century, a combination of great arable land, the Danube as a transport route, and its developed processing industries, had made it one of the most prosperous regions of historic Hungary. The climate is especially well suited for growing produce, especially fruit.
Felvidék (Slovakia)

The Palots
The Palots Hungarians are found in the regions of Upper Hungary (now Slovakia) and the northern parts of present-day Hungary. Their settlements extend from the Garam River all the way to the center of Borsod County. Their boundaries are even more difficult to define on the south, because after the expulsion of the Turks, the prolific population emigrated even into the Southern Great Plain. Because the Palotses are dispersed over such a large territory, there are several sub-groups united by numerous common features. This includes: peculiarity of their dialect and an affinity for shepherding. They are also bound by many characteristics in house construction, homespuns, costumes, and poetry. We can point to Slovakian influence on the northern stretch of this group, especially in customs and beliefs, such as, e.g. kiszehajtás (throwing a straw dummy into the brook on Palm Sunday to avert the plague).