The lights are up along Andrássy Avenue, if not yet (at the time of writing) switched on. The Nation’s Christmas Tree was set up in front of the Parliament on Nov. 25. The silver fir is about 20 meters tall, 50 centimeters in diameter and weighs five tonnes, according to state news agency MTI. It was transported (presumably on one very long vehicle) to Kossuth tér from Dubicsány, a tiny village 196 km northeast of Budapest by road, in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, not a million miles from the border with Slovakia.
The two biggest Christmas fairs, the Vörösmarty Classic Xmas at Vörösmarty tér and the multiple award-winning Advent Basilica (voted “The Most Beautiful Christmas Market in Europe” for the fourth year running in 2024), at the foot of the Szent István-bazilika, opened on Nov. 17 and will welcome marketgoers until Jan. 1. The newer Corvin Hütte opened at the Corvin Promenade on Nov. 23, but will run until Dec. 24.
All this, and we are not yet into December. Those of a Christian persuasion haven’t even begun to mark Advent, the period of waiting and anticipation ahead of Christmas that is analogous to Lent and Easter. By a happy coincidence in the timing of the calendar and the movement of the stars, this year, Advent Sunday, the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, falls on Dec. 1, which at least makes the Christmas math easy. Nor should it be forgotten that this is not a uniquely Christian time of year. Jews will celebrate Hanukkah and light the eight candles of the menorah from nightfall on Dec. 25 until nightfall on Jan. 2 this year.
Some like the idea of a period of contemplation before the gift-giving and excesses of the Christmas meals, although the commercial world sees this time principally as an excuse to sell Advent calendars and wreaths. When the festival was first introduced, fasting was a big part of it, sometimes starting as early as St. Martin’s Day on Nov. 11. That really is several steps removed from today’s more secular and chocolate-centric approach.
The concept of preparation is one area where the business world has borrowed from Advent. For the conscious Christian, this means preparation for what they call the Gospel, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word god-spell meaning “Good News,” the good news in case being the birth of their Saviour. For the conscious businessperson, the point of focus is more about setting targets than saving souls. This is when many are going through their annual budget planning process, a headache waiting to happen if ever there was one.
But whether you are a person of any faith or none, perhaps we should all explore the idea of taking a step back, not to mention taking stock, right now. If you are lucky enough to have children, or if you are entertaining friends and family, you know that however much you enjoy Christmas, it won’t exactly be relaxing. Perhaps now wouldn’t be such a bad time to think more deeply about personal and commercial plans and goals for next year.
Robin Marshall
Editor-in-chief
This editorial was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of Nov. 29, 2024.
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