Did you know National Magic Day falls on October 31st in honor of Harry Houdini? In that spirit, I thought I’d share a little magic with you now—while also giving you ideas for planning your Christmas and New Year season as the last quarter of the year sneaks up on us.
The grand finale of our Christmas Viking River Cruise along the Danube River was Budapest—and it greeted us with falling snow, the kind that makes the whole world feel like a snow globe. But here’s the twist I never saw coming: Harry Houdini was born here. I had no idea.
One minute I was wandering through the Castle District, the next I was standing near the very place where the world’s greatest escape artist first opened his eyes.
Budapest’s very first official Christmas market opened in 1998 at Vörösmarty Square, right in the heart of the city
See the other stops from the cruise:
Some chilling facts:
- Houdini was born Erik Weisz on March 24, 1874.
- His family left Budapest for America when he was just four years old—but his story began here.
- He died on October 31, 1926, at the age of 52—on Halloween night.
Our day began with Houdini’s shadow, and from there we stepped deeper into Budapest’s spell. The Christmas market glowed with flickering lights and the scent of paprika, cinnamon, and mulled wine. I write on the famous chimney cakes of Budapest’s Christmas Market here.
The second part of the tour was wild. We actually walked down the very aisle where the Habsburgs were crowned—Franz Joseph I in 1867 and Charles IV in 1916. This is where their coronations took place, which is why it’s known as the Coronation Church of Buda (on the Buda side of Budapest). The gargoyles etched into the stone are still original, dating back to 1260. What an unexpected surprise on our stop.
And it didn’t end there. We were led into a private chamber where replicas of the Hungarian Crown Jewels are displayed. The real treasures are locked away under guard in Parliament, but these were exact doubles—gleaming in the half-light, whispering of Budapest’s royal past.
There’s a documentary that peels back the gilded curtain on Netflix: you can watch Habsburgs: Verkuppelte Töchter—a fascinating dive into how Habsburg daughters were married off like chess pieces across Europe (but often ended up playing the game better than anyone ever expected).
The oldest stone carving in Budapest
Matthias Church
In Hungarian folklore, snow is often associated with magical beings and enchanting creatures. Snowy landscapes and winter weather are believed to be inhabited by various mythical entities, adding to the rich tapestry of Hungarian folklore and traditions!
Leave a Reply