Old Hungarian alphabet

The old Hungarian alphabet is a writing system that is used for writing the Hungarian language. It first appeared in 1000 BC as the incision of an axe found near Rome. Hungarians must have come in contact with it in the 7th and 8th century AD as part of the Turkic expansion. The alphabet was used by shepherds and commoners until Medieval times, then its use faded. It got revived in 1915. It is read from right to left, has 42 characters. The alphabet offers ways to represent Hungarian vowels (a/á, e/é, i/í, o/ó, ö/ő, u/ú, and ü/ű) and all consonants are pronounced with a vowel.

The writing medium used to be sticks but then Hungarians in Transylvania started using different media. Its contemporary revival uses it as a way of preserving history which can also be interpreted as a neopaganism.

Pre-postal Hungary

A specific technology that was used in Hungary before national post was an option was the so called “noise wood”. This was a column made out of wood that was erected in proximity of each other and it was used to communicate with lights and noise. 

The piece of wood was elaborately cut and decorated. There was always a a person responsible around it, so in time of danger it could be lit up. 

The contemporary use of this technology has changed, nowadays it is used as a centerpiece to folk celebrations in a rural community.