Whatever shortages of goods there might have been in a centrally-planned economy, free time was in plentiful supply. Unemployment was totally unknown - and illegal - but life in communist Hungary could hardly have been called a rat race.
So, what was everyone doing in their free time? Here's a picture of what we did....
So, what was everyone doing in their free time? Here's a picture of what we did....
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Here is an extract of the full-length film which shows the development of eating and drinking places in Budapest in the 60s and 70s. (Though the spoken language is Hungarian, the pictures tell the story wonderfully on their own.) |
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SportSport was an integral part of life, not just in Hungary, but throughout the socialist bloc.
Winning Olympic medals brought glory to the country, but more, it was a vindication of the socialist system which supported its athletes who did not have to hold down a job alongside their training. Success in sports also guaranteed privileges denied to ordinary citizens: travel, a flat and a degree of celebrity. Sport in everyday life was much encouraged - everything from the evening TV exercise programme (TV Torna) to the activities of the children's Pioneer movement. Sport was taken very seriously at school and most people undertook some form of sport in their free time. |
Music, cinema, theatreIt was a principle of the socialist government that cultural pursuits should be available to all at minimal cost.
In the 80s a cinema ticket cost 10 forints, likewise a theatre or opera ticket was just 20 forints, thus making these affordable to all. Since there was little on television and people worked at a much slower pace than today, they had both the time and energy to go out in the evenings. There were pop concerts as well as classical ones - a few adventurous stars like Elton John ventured across the iron curtain to perform to a highly-appreciative audience in the sports stadium in 1983. Folk dancing was also cultivated, particularly in "Dance houses" where the dances were taught to anyone interested. |
Fun of the Fair
The funfair was located in the City Park. alongside the Circus and opposite the Szechényi baths. Its other name was the "English Park" (angol kert).
Pride of place, close to the entrance, was reserved for the wonderful merry-go-round (körhinta) dating from 1908. The other main attractions of the time - some of which remain - were the wooden roller coaster, the boat ride beneath it with its fairy-tale figures, and the stomach-churning ciklon.
Fares for the rides were nominal, and families would spend the whole day on the site of the fair, eating hotdogs and popcorn, and drinking coke and beer. It was an unsurprisingly popular family day out.
Pride of place, close to the entrance, was reserved for the wonderful merry-go-round (körhinta) dating from 1908. The other main attractions of the time - some of which remain - were the wooden roller coaster, the boat ride beneath it with its fairy-tale figures, and the stomach-churning ciklon.
Fares for the rides were nominal, and families would spend the whole day on the site of the fair, eating hotdogs and popcorn, and drinking coke and beer. It was an unsurprisingly popular family day out.