They were woven in Hajdúnánás for almost a month.

Since 2018, the Bread of the Magyars – 15 million grains of wheat program has been a traditional and prominent element of the preparation of a monumental harvest wreath symbolizing the unity of Hungarian farmers.

In the numerology of this year's wreath, a reference to the Virgin Mary appears, on the lower horizontal circle there are 17 uniform motifs, just as the rosary prayer of the Virgin Mary consists of 17 Our Fathers. The number 17 symbolizes self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, spiritual awareness and wisdom, it was said at the ceremonial handover.

Hajdúnánás is a city where we take care and live the values ​​that ensure a healthy and beautiful future for the coming generation - stressed Ildikó Nagyné Legény, president of the Association of Hungarian Farmers' Cooperatives and Farmers' Cooperatives (MAGOSZ) of the Women's Section, deputy mayor of Hajdúnánás.

Straw weaving is an old craft, it provided a livelihood for many in Hajdúnánás. The harvest wreath praises the handiwork of folk craftsman Sándorné Nagy, who designed and wove the wreath for two months from the raw material she produced herself. The harvest wreath symbolizes community strength and faith, which "must keep us together and give us strength for the future," emphasized Ildikó Nagyné Legény.

– It is a special holiday that we can stand here and confess our faith and that we think in terms of a nation. For us, the holding power of the nation, the power of unity, the power that comes from faith also means the survival of the future generation - stressed István Jakab, the vice-president of the Parliament and the president of MAGOSZ.

According to István Jakab, Hungarian farmers have a special respect for tradition, they live their daily lives in such a way that they ask for God's blessing on the harvest, organize a collection and combine the grain brought together from various areas of the Carpathian Basin, so that the bread of the nation can be made by grinding 15 million grains of wheat.

He added that on the national holiday, the harvest wreath will also be visible in the procession in Budapest.

The harvest wreath was received by the assistant bishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Gábor Mohos, the parish priest of St. Stephen's Basilica, who prayed for God's blessing and, after the prayer, said a blessing on the harvest wreath.

This year's wreath is 210 centimeters wide and 200 centimeters high and is decorated with "God's eye" braids, bells, spirals, double braids, ears of corn, curls, and rain snails.

The four horizontal curls remind us of the four gospels, the heritage of Saint Stephen and the Christian roots. The six vertical curls refer to the creation of the world.

MTI

Cover image: Ildikó Nagyné Legény, president of the Magosz housewife section, deputy mayor of Hajdúnánás (b) and her assistant bring the harvest wreath made in Hajdúnánás to the Szent István basilica on August 15, 2024
Source: MTI/Márton Mónus