TARGU SECUIESC, Romania (AP) – Thousands of ethnic Hungarians in Romania dressed up, saddled up horses and then paraded in the northwest Transylvania region on Wednesday to celebrate Hungary’s national holiday.
In Targu Secuiesc, a city in central Romania, Hungarians wearing traditional costumes rode horses and carried large Hungarian flags. Crowds turned out to admire the parade.
Elsewhere in the region, Hungarians dressed in vintage Hussar uniforms and raised the blue and yellow flag of the Szeklers, an ethnic Hungarian group living in eastern Transylvania.
There are around 1.4 million ethnic Hungarians living in Romania, mainly in Transylvania which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries until 1918.
Some are seeking greater territorial autonomy and privileges for the community, a desire that has become more vocal since Viktor Orban became Hungary’s prime minister in 2010.