The ceremony began with the striking of a gong in Batthyány Street, which was transformed into a colorful whirlwind on the evening of the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, due to the celebrating audience.
- For centuries, the university, its scientific achievements, its teachers, and its Hungarian and foreign students have been an integral part of the city of Debrecen. Hungarian students can learn 15 languages: Japanese, Italian, Dutch, Polish, German, English, French, and, due to the Confucius Institute, Chinese. At the same time, foreign students also have the opportunity to show their fellow students and the city's residents the customs of their home countries. Tonight our Chinese students will provide us with the fifth opportunity to gain a glimpse into the life of a distant country through its culture, thanks to music, dance, colorful costumes, and the indispensable moon cakes that symbolize the holiday, said Andrea Horváth, director of the German Studies Institute at the University of Debrecen and president of the co-organizer Deutsches Kulturforum, in her opening remarks.
István Puskás, Deputy Mayor of Debrecen responsible for cultural affairs, gave a welcoming speech at the event, highlighting the cultural diversity of the city, which includes some 8,000 foreign students studying at the University of Debrecen.
There are currently almost 400 Chinese students studying at the university. One of them was Liu Yonghan, also known by her chosen Hungarian name Vali, who was one of the first to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Hungarian from the University of Debrecen.
"It is a great honor for us to celebrate together today the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Reunion Festival, which is a great tradition in China, where families gather on this occasion to eat traditional moon cakes together, expressing their desire for a better life," said Liu Yonghan, one of the Chinese hosts of the event, in her Hungarian-language greeting.
The stage saw a succession of performances, with the audience treated to sword and fan dances, modern choreographies reimagining traditions, Wing-tsun Tiger and Taiji Dragon martial arts demonstrations, and exotic Chinese instrumental performances.
Several large industrial companies operating in Debrecen and the region, including CATL, SEMCORP Hungary Kft., EVE POWER, and BMW Debrecen, introduced themselves as sponsors at the event.
Then came the long-awaited moment when everyone could taste the symbol of the holiday, the moon cake.
To conclude the festive event, Cui Xianjun, Chinese director of the DE BTK Confucius Institute, wished everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, while László Erik Kovács, deputy director of the institute, thanked the supporters, volunteers, performers, and the Chinese Student Association of Debrecen (CSAD) for their contributions.
The program was organized jointly by the DE BTK Confucius Institute and the Deutsches Kulturforum Debrecen OTT-HOME International Meeting Point.
Press Centre - BZs
Photo: Rudolf Jakkel
