Hungarian culture at the heart of SHAPE

Year after year, the SHAPE Fest provides the members of SHAPE’s international community with an opportunity to get acquainted first-hand with each other’s culture, traditions and gastronomy beyond their daily duties. This year, 32 NATO Allies and the representatives of partner countries presented the characteristics of their homelands. The service personnel serving at SHAPE, the civil employees and their family members awaited the interested public with traditional dishes, folk costumes, music and authentic sets.

The event was opened by General Alexus G. Grynkewich, in civilian clothes by tradition. After welcoming the participants, the SACEUR himself started walking around the place to personally meet the tents of national communities. During his walk-around, this time he also visited the Hungary cuisine and culture tent, where he was offered goulash and freshly baked chimney cake.

Following the SACEUR’s visit, several senior guests visited the head of the Hungarian community. National Military Representative Major General Dr. László Sticz received Dr. Adrienn Tóth-Ferenci, Chargée d’Affaires a. i. of Hungary to Belgium as well as Krisztina Gosztonyi, Hungary’s temporary Chargée d’Affaires to NATO. Hungary’s military representative in the NATO Military Committee Major General László Garas also visited the Hungary tent, just like Senior Coordinator of the International Military Staff of the NATO Military Committee Brigadier General József Szűcs. Major General Sticz also received Márton Bese, Head of Defence Policy Section, Permanent Representation of Hungary to NATO and then held discussions with the Belgian, North Macedonian, French, Greek, Lithuanian, Spanish and Turkish national military representatives at SHAPE.

It is important to point out that the Hungarian community gave a professional performance in the field of gastronomy as well. The goulash, cooked by traditional recipe and the chimney cakes in different flavors proved very popular. The Hungarian specialties, which are truly unique in Belgium, attracted great interest the whole day: many people queued up in front of the Hungary tent, and consumed hundreds of portions of dishes.

This year, too, the SHAPE Fest was much more about than the display of national traditions and the tasting of delicious food. Once again, the event has demonstrated that learning about different cultures, personal encounters and collectively gained positive experiences strengthen the international community of SHAPE – and this time, a number of Hungarian folk dance steps also contributed to this.