Hey YouTube, Jim here! Welcome to Top10Archive! Oh I really don’t want to do this one … we’re
going to be talking about an entire nation of people who are starving! In fact, they
named their whole country after their awful predicament! Hungry! What? Ohhh! That’s
better! In this worldly installment, we’re hot-footing it to explore a beautiful central
European land of history that dates back to the 9th century BC. So throw on “Himnusz”
as we trek through Budapest, walk the edge of the Danube, explore the former Ottoman
territory, and so much more with these top ten amazing facts about Hungary. As we get
started, go ahead and subscribe to the channel and click the bell so you’re notified every
time we upload a new video. 10. Famous Faces of Hungary
Hungary is the birthplace of many well-known beauties including models Barbara Palvin,
Vanessa Axente, and Eniko Mihalik. Local sports stars include Olympic swimmer and two-time
Hungarian sports personality of the year Katinka Hosszu and soccer star Adam Bogdan. And last
– but certainly not least - who can forget everybody’s favorite, albeit tragic magician,
Harry Houdini. Looking for awesome and talented YouTubers to follow? Try Matt Himer, better
known as Hmate57, Videomania, and Inez Hilda Papp.
9. Cuisine of Hungary If you’re heading to Hungary, we hope that
you’re *ahem* hungry! Goulash is by far the most famous of the country’s cuisine
exports. This meat and vegetable stew is flavored with Hungary’s favorite spice – paprika
– and is a national dish despite its humble beginnings as a means to feed 9th-century
shepherds. For dessert, the Dobos torte is a decedent five-layer sponge cake flavored
with chocolate buttercream and caramel. And, in true Hungarian style, why not wash all
that down with Pálinka, a potent brandy flavored with fruit. You can usually try it in apricot,
cherry or plum. 8. Hungary and Sports
Hungary is a strong contender in the world of sports, and with 497 Olympic medals to
its name, only seven other countries can boast more than the Hungarians. Popular sports include
water polo, in which Hungary outperforms the rest of the world, and football. Motorsports
are also big in Hungary as the Hungarian Grand Prix has been held just outside Budapest since
1986 and will continue to do so until at least 2021.
7. Land of Thermal Springs Hungary is a hotspot for baths and there are
more medicinal spas here than in any other European country. The tradition of using spas
in Hungary originated under Roman rule. In fact, Rome first colonized Hungary, in part,
to take advantage of the thermal water which can be accessed in 80% of its territory. Nowadays,
modern Hungarians are proud of their spa culture and there are around 1,500 thermal springs
across the country, with more than 100 in and around Budapest alone. If you’re planning
a visit, why not treat yourself and head to Gellért spa, the most luxurious and famous
baths in Budapest. 6. Hungary’s World Records
Hungarians really go the distance with their world records. Zoltán Mészáros ran the
fastest mile in a bomb disposal suit in 2014, managing it in just 8 minutes and 29 seconds,
and Bálint Huszár completed the furthest forward flip trampette slam dunk in 2016,
bouncing just over 20 ft (6.18m). Speaking of sinking hoops, the Face Team Acrobatic
Sports Theatre slammed their way into a world record in 2016 by slam dunking 39 basketballs
in one minute, and in February of 2017, Kovacs Gyorgy took the title for most flips of a
bottle on the back of the hand in one minute, achieving 146 flips.
5. Wildlife in Hungary With a rich landscape, variable climate and
ten stunning national parks, there’s plenty of wildlife to be marveled at. Being landlocked,
it’s unsurprising that many of the creatures found in Hungary are mammals. There are 73
species to be exact, including some rare and endangered animals such as the Alpine Shrew
and the Eurasian Otter. Brown bears, red foxes and roe deer are much more abundant and can
be found throughout the country. Not all of Hungary’s wildlife is on dry land, though.
Lake Balaton, which is Central Europe’s largest freshwater lake, plays hosts to over
40 species of fish including carp, pike and catfish.
4. The Origins of “Hungary” Hungary’s name dates way back to the 9th
and 10th centuries and originates from the Medieval Latin word Hungaria. The Latin word
itself came from the Eastern European steppe people that conquered the area, who were known
as the Hungarī , Ungrī, and Ugrī. Hungary is the English form of the word for Hungaria,
and is how most of the world now knows this European land. Hungarians actually refer to
themselves as Magyars, though, which is derived from Megyer, Hungary’s most prominent tribe
from around the 9th century, and is therefore a more accurate demonym for Hungary’s native
population. 3. Hungarian Names
While on the topic of names… a person’s name is an important part of Hungarian culture.
Hungarian parents must select from a pre-approved list of names or apply for approval of a unique
moniker. Rather than baby Daggers or Sadmans - yes, these are names that have been given
to American children – Hungarian schools have a lot of Margits and Tamás’. Because
all pre-approved names have religious or historical significance, Hungarians celebrate Namedays,
with every first name having its own day in the calendar which corresponds to the origin
of the name. To celebrate the day, Hungarians typically present their loved ones with wine
or flowers. 2. Hungary’s Role in WWII
Hungary’s role in WWII is both significant and complex in equal measures. At the beginning
of the war, Hungary was part of the Axis powers - alongside Nazi Germany and Italy. But, after
betraying Hitler by engaging in armistice talks with the US and the UK, Hungary became
a Nazi target. During this occupation, an armistice was signed between Hungary and the
Soviet Union, but it was quickly retracted after the German kidnapping of Hungarian ruler
Miklós Horthy’s son. Horthy was deposed and replaced by fascist leader Ferenc Szálasi,
who established a new government with Germany. The Soviet Union invaded Hungary in 1945 and
defeated Hungarian and German troops, but then occupied Hungary for many decades after
the war, which leads us to… 1. Hungary’s Revolutions
Although Hungary was named as its own country during the 9th and 10th centuries, it hasn’t
always been a free nation. Hungary became independent from the Austrian empire in 1918,
but more recently Hungarians have battled to free themselves from a Soviet occupation
that lasted almost 50 years. The famous Hungarian Revolution of 1956 began as a student demonstration
and soon grew into a nationwide revolt against Soviet ruling. Thousands organized into militias,
and although the government was temporarily overthrown, Soviet troops soon backtracked
from negotiations and crushed the revolution. After a second revolution in 1989, Soviet
soldiers finally began leaving, and the last troops were withdrawn on June 19th, 1991,
rendering Hungary independent once again. Thanks so much for watching! Remember to subscribe
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