|
Many Hungarians live in rural areas and commute to work in
the cities. More than half of the population does some farming part-time to
supplement the income from a job. Under communist rule, many people worked on
large farming co-operatives or in factories, and workers were given housing.
Most private property was taken away by the state. A law passed in 1991 partly
compensated people who had lost property under the communists.
People in rural areas usually live in single-family houses.
Those in the cities usually live in apartments. In the past, adult children often
lived with their parents until they could afford to move out and parents moved in
with their children when they retired. In rural areas married children often
built their homes close to their parents' home. These traditions are now
changing. |
 |
|
Although more than 60% of the Hungarian population is
Catholic, divorce and common-law relationships are common, as is having children
outside of marriage. Most couples have only one or two children. In Hungary a
civil marriage ceremony is required by law and a religious wedding ceremony is
optional. Many Hungarian Christians, therefore, have two wedding ceremonies.
The first takes place at the City Hall and the other at a church. The two
wedding ceremonies need not take place on the same day and can even be a
month apart. |
|
Did you know? |
| |
Hot springs in Hungary are used for central heating in homes
and for agriculture and industry. |
| |
|
The Gypsies, or Roma, are a distinct ethnic group within Hungary.
Many live in poverty. Some Roma men live and work in the cities while their families
remain in the country. The Roma birth rate is two to three times the Hungarian birth
rate and a large proportion of the Roma population is young.
Other important ethnic groups in Hungary include Germans,
Slovaks, Croats, Romanians, Ukrainians, Armenians, Poles, Slovenes, Bulgarians
and Greeks. Hungarian law recognizes 13 national minorities. |
 |