Hungary is another one of Europe's most treasured destinations. Its capital, Budapest, is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and the country itself is never short on amazing escapades and memorable travel adventures.
But Hungary is so much more than what meets the eye. Care to know more? Here are some facts about the place that will probably surprise you:
Naming a child is a serious matter. If you're a Hungarian parent, naming your child must always be on the pre-approved list of names in the country. You cannot just name your child whatever you want. If you ever want a unique name, you have to make an appeal first and pass an application to the Research Institute for Linguistics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
They have a magic potion. This magic potion takes form in a fruit brandy named Pálinka, and if you're ever in the country, you must be smart enough to not refuse a shot when offered by the locals. Hungarians revere this drink because they think it cures almost all ailments. They have a local saying that goes: "Palinka in small amounts is a medicine, in large amounts a remedy".
Hungary has its own breed of pigs. Called Mangalitsa Pigs, it's a result of a 19th-century Austro-Hungarian experiment in which they inter-bred a wild boar with a pig bred especially for lard. Now, the mangalitsa pigs are coveted around the world because of its excellent quality of meat. Only 60,000 Mangalitsa pigs can be found in the whole world, and 75% of its population is in Hungary.
Clinking beer glasses is rude. Do not make the mistake of clinking your beer glasses in Hungary-it is considered a social faux pas. This is because of a legend way back in the 1848 Hungarian revolution, in which 13 Hungarian generals were executed by the Austrians, and with every death, Austrians clunk their beer glasses. To show respect to the generals, Hungarians vowed to never clink their glasses when drinking ever again.
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