On August 20, 2025, everyone is invited to the Sóstó Museum Village (Sóstói Múzeumfalu) in Nyíregyháza (Nyíregyháza) to celebrate New Bread Day. This annual event honors Saint Stephen (Szent István), the founding of the Hungarian state, and the age-old rural traditions surrounding the first bread baked from the new wheat harvest. Throughout the centuries, this day has marked the end of the harvest season and is filled with customs tied to fertility and abundance, such as sharing the first wheat with animals, ensuring prosperity by welcoming a bride under a loaf of bread, or placing a whole loaf on the Christmas table.
Tradition in Every Moment
Doors open at 10:00 AM, and the festivities begin at 10:30 with the team harnessing horses to start the Matolcs dry mill (Matolcsi szélmalom), a tribute to centuries-old agricultural practices. Shortly after, at 11:00, the Kuttyomfitty Troupe (Kuttyomfitty Társulat) takes the village stage with an interactive performance for everyone aged 4 to 90—a show that blends folk tales with plenty of dancing.
Art, Bread, and Stories
Throughout the day, guests can join three guided tours of a brand-new exhibition called “If You Are Enchanted…” The curator promises it will be unique, mysterious, and not to be missed by art lovers and curious minds alike. At noon, everyone gathers for the eagerly awaited sourdough bread contest results—which bread will be crowned the best of 2025, and which baker will win bragging rights?
Nourishment for Body and Soul
For those hungry for knowledge, there’s a fascinating lecture at 1:00 PM: “Monastic and Civic Pharmacies – Between Folk Healing and Official Medicine,” presented by renowned ethnographer Dr. Zsolt Nagy. At 2:00 PM, the heart of the holiday arrives with the blessing of the new bread during a Thanksgiving Reformed Church service, led by Pastor László Kósa.
Dancing, Crafts, and Family Fun
The festivities wouldn’t be complete without a party! At 3:00 PM, the Szabolcs Folk Dance Group (Szabolcs Néptáncegyüttes) puts on an energetic show, then invites the audience to join in communal dancing in a traditional dance house (táncház). Meanwhile, heritage groups recreate the harvest on the Barabás Schoolyard (Barabás iskola udvara), children whirl on a basket carousel, and the Méhecske PlayYard (Méhecske Játszótér) hosts folk games. Creative hands can take part in straw weaving sessions or join Beatrix’s playful folk classes. For families, there’s a village fair, horse carriage rides, and a bread-tasting event supported by local mills and bakeries.
Everyone can enjoy the day free of charge—doors close at 6:00 PM. If you love tradition, bread, and a fantastic village day out, don’t miss New Bread Day at the Sóstó Museum Village (Sóstói Múzeumfalu)!
