Since 1st of May is Theme day in the DP family (are you preparing yourselves guys?):) I decided to post on 1st of May one day before. The local government of Budapest helped me, they have raised the flags in advance.
1st of May is the date that Hungary joined to the European Union in 2004 so that’s why you can see so many blue European flags on the Freedom (liberty) bridge.
But as we know originally 1st of May is for celebrating labour (for my dear American visitors: labor). In this part of the globe, this is a controversial celebration today. Before 1989 1st of May was one of the largest communist event in the calendar celebrating the working class as the leading force of the socialism. Usually they organized large marching parades on the main streets of the city. In my childhood, I also participated on events like these with my school and maybe its not trendy to say I’ve enjoyed them as a child. Everyone was on the streets. In Tatabánya where I grew up, the miners marched in their “uniform” and other guys working in the industry were in their cool dresses, and it was totally amazing for a little boy. I always tried to choose the blue flag to carry from the three possible options: the Hungarian national flag, the red communist flag, and the blue flag of peace. And when we arrived to the tribune, where gray haired or almost bald uncles were standing in old fashioned ugly eyeglasses, we had to wave to them following the instruction of our teachers. After a few minutes we arrived to the end of the wide road and aside trucks were waiting for us to collect the flags. And we got sausage with mustard and bread as present for that hard work.:)
Nowadays lot of people think here, that 1st of May is a communist event. But its not true. It comes from Chicago (Illionis, USA) and we remember (or it seems we don’t remember) the so called Haymarkert Riot of 1886. So I think we could continue our funny marching on 1st of May instead of labeling this event as something we have to forget about. The gray haired uncles will be other guys but does is it really makes difference?:) And I guess nowadays I would be more excited to look at marching nurses in their short white coat than about black miners, but the sausage would still be a fix element of the program:)
I know with the world changing (almost daily it seems).
We must never forget the past (there’s a famous quote about that), to forget is to deny ourselves from ourselves. We are the past, we are the present and we are the future. Never forget, but also learn, teach and forgive. Peace.
The flags are beautiful.
Szia Zsolt, orulok, hogy megtalaltam a blogodat. Nemcsak a fotokert, amik nagyon jok, de a tortenetekert is. udv Zulufoldrol
A stunning photograph of a great bridge. I like your account of May 1st also.
La photo est magnifique. belle composition avec les drapeaux, bravo
The photograph is splendid. beautiful composition with the flags, cheer
oh clever post!
and may 2nd is the day of madrid! so no work til thursday here! ;)
Thanks for sharing an important time in history and your memories as a child.We must remember the past and learn from it. So keep marching, waving the flags and eating the sausages.
Whatever it may mean, fantastic colors and great shot, Zsolt. I’m really learning a lot about this bridge, in detail. And dare I say you like photographing this bridge as well??
This was a lovely post.
The photo is great I am enjoying this blog.
Wow, that’s a beautiful bridge! Great photo!
you are right Meg..this is my favorite bridge..the other day I took a lot of photos about it. Step by step I will post some of them here. So if you wanna be surprised do not check my Flickr…:)