5 weird things about Hungarians: Discover the intriguing aspects of tradition

Every nation has its set of traditions, behaviours, and cultural quirks that others find odd. Here, we have compiled a list of weird things about Hungarians that other nations simply do not understand.

Blowing our noses loudly

In Hungary, it is common for people to blow their noses loudly, whether on the bus, on the street, or practically anywhere. This habit probably tops the list of weird things about Hungarians. The attitude seems to be “let it come out,” as they use their handkerchiefs with confidence to clear their airways. However, this custom can be quite startling to those from other cultures. Scandinavians, in particular, find the sound of Hungarians trumpeting their noses rather alarming, as they tend to retreat to a more private setting or opt for a discreet sniffle instead.

Name days

In Hungary, celebrating a name day is almost as significant as celebrating one’s birthday. Each day of the year is associated with specific names, and individuals named accordingly enjoy a day of well-wishes, gifts, and gatherings. This tradition, however, can seem rather peculiar to those from other nations, where birthdays hold the primary celebratory focus. For many outsiders, the concept of dedicating a day to one’s name appears unusual and unfamiliar, often leading to curiosity and bemusement. However, name days are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to weird things about Hungarians and odd traditions.

Long words

Hungarian is known for its exceptionally long words, a result of the language‘s agglutinative nature, where complex ideas are often expressed in a single, lengthy word. These words can seem quite daunting to speakers of other languages, as they often include multiple prefixes, suffixes, and root words all strung together. For instance, a word like “megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért” can feel overwhelming and almost unpronounceable to those unfamiliar with the language.