Commemoration of the 1956 Revolution in Wellington

It was a great honor to be able to take part for the second time in organizing an event for the Hungarian community in Wellington. I am truly grateful to Klári Szentirmay, President of the Hungarian Millennium Park Trust, for placing her trust in me once again. This time, we commemorated the 69th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence. During the preparations, we organized a quiz, an acrobatic rock and roll dance performance, and a dance house.

The journey was exciting not only because of the flight, but also because we didn’t arrive empty-handed: we brought 35 kilograms of smoked sausage from Auckland for the Hungarians in Wellington! At the airport, we were practically dragging a trail of sausages behind us—dogs would surely have followed us enthusiastically. After a successful landing, we immediately threw ourselves into the preparations: packing isler cookies, puszedli, and pogácsa filled the afternoon. It was wonderful to see Klári Szentirmay and Györgyi Bushnell again, and to finally meet in person those with whom we had previously only been in contact online. Saturday’s program began in the church, where Archbishop Gábor Pintér, Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand and Oceania, held a commemorative Mass. We lit candles and together recalled the memory of the heroes of 1956. Afterwards, we walked to the Hungarian Millennium Park, where speeches were given by Dr. Gábor Tamás Nagy, Ambassador of Hungary, and Andrew Little, Mayor of Wellington. The program concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony, and the park looked beautiful in the spring sunshine. From there, we returned to the community house, where the Hungarian afternoon began: visitors could buy sausages, tea biscuits, smoked cheeses, and taste all kinds of delicacies, from pork cracklings to cabbage twists. The highlight of the afternoon for me was the dance performance. Together with my best friend, Mira Lampert, I stepped onto the stage—ten years after we became world champions together. It was a special feeling to dance together again, especially at an event where we were able to introduce acrobatic rock and roll, a sport with a strong tradition in Hungary, to the Wellington community for the first time. For this occasion, we prepared a choreography with a distinctly Hungarian atmosphere. After the performance, a dance house followed, where everyone could join in, and the day ended with a 1956-themed quiz, allowing participants to test their knowledge of the revolution in a playful way. On Sunday and Monday, we wrapped up the weekend with sightseeing: we explored the surroundings of Wellington and experienced what it feels like to stand on top of a mountain in 60 km/h wind gusts. For the locals, this is everyday life, but for us, it was a real adventure!

Overall, we had a fantastic weekend. I am grateful for the trust and the opportunity to once again be part of this beautiful event, and to experience it all with my best friend, with whom I have shared an unbroken friendship since we were one year old.

Fanni Csényi

KCSP Scholarship holder