In most of Christendom, St. Stephen's Day is a feast day observed just after Christmas honoring the first Christian martyr. But in Hungary, St. Stephen's Day celebrates the nation's first Christian king, Stephen I , founder of the country and its first canonized saint. He is remembered on the day of his death, August 20, with special masses, fireworks , and a ceremony the hoisting the national flag on Kossuth Square in Budapest.

Budapest's stunning St. Stephen's Basilica is named in honour of Stephen I, whose right hand is housed in the reliquary.