rates a landmark moment in history: on November 13, 1844 , the National Assembly declared Hungarian the official language of the legislature, replacing Latin. This decision was a major step toward strengthening national identity and ensuring that the country’s cultural heritage was recognized in public life. In 2011, the National Assembly officially designated this date as a commemorative day to celebrate the Hungarian language and emphasize the importance of preserving it for future generations. Hungarian, a member of the Uralic language family , has a written history dating back to the 11th century . The earliest known fragment of Hungarian appears in the 1055 Tihany founding charter , while the first continuous Hungarian text, the Halotti beszéd (Funeral Oration), dates from the late 12th century. Despite this long literary tradition, Latin and German dominated administration and education for centuries. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Hungarian language reform movement — led by figures such as Ferenc Kazinczy — sought to modernise the language, expand its vocabulary, and elevate its use in academic and official settings. Their efforts paved the way for the 1843–1844 National Assembly, where expanding the rights of the national language became a central issue. On June 20, 1844 , lawmakers declared that all members of the National Assembly must speak in Hungarian. The move sparked controversy, especially when Croatian delegates continued addressing the chamber in Latin. After several debates between the royal court and the Diet of Hungary, Ferdinand V affirmed the will of the nation by signing Act II of 1844 on the Hungarian language and nationality on November 13. The new law mandated that: All legislation be drafted in Hungarian Parliamentary work be conducted in Hungarian Government offices throughout the country use Hungarian Education in schools be carried out in Hungarian This legal milestone became one of the major achievements of Hungary’s Reform Era. Although Hungarian temporarily lost its official status following the 1849 defeat in the War of Independence, it regained prominence with the October Diploma of 1860. Throughout history, renowned writers such as Dezső Kosztolányi, Mihály Babits, Ferenc Kölcsey , and Sándor Márai have emphasized that language is a core pillar of national identity. Kosztolányi praised the playfulness and poetic nature of Hungarian; Babits described it as “the medium of thought”; Kölcsey viewed it as a key guardian of culture; and Márai called the mother tongue a “spiritual refuge.” Marking the occasion, Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén said in a video message: “We have often heard and said that a nation lives in its language. This is indeed the case. Our language is the last bastion of Hungarian identity — a bastion that has carried us through history.” As Hungarians celebrate the linguistic legacy of their nation, Hungarian Language Day serves as a reminder of the continued importance of safeguarding and nurturing this unique mother tongue for generations to come.