A recent television news broadcast on the M1 TV station (Dec.23rd 7:30 evening news edition, www.hirado.hu) published a statistic on what Hungarians think about the Christmas holiday. According to the report 52% say it is a time to celebrate love, 32% say it's a time to be with family, 14% say it's the time to celebrate the birth of Christ, 1% a day off from work, 1% other. Experts say that the religious element of Christmas has become more in the back of people's minds.

According to the same newscast less are giving to the poor: 57% are not giving in time or goods to the poor, 41% are giving of time or possessions, and 2% don't know or did not answer. Krishna missionaries are on the street saying it is a season of love as they give hot food to the homeless and poor. Christians also are taking shoe boxes and bags containing gifts to poor children. The numbers of homeless on the streets of Budapest have greatly risen in recent months due to the recession.