Trianon: From Tragedy to Opportunity?

Translation of an article originally published in Hungarian by Magyar Jelen on May 31, 2025 by Tamás Lipták.

In recent weeks, the bleachers of football stadiums have offered a striking view of Hungarian fans cheering for a historic team from Kolozsvár (Cluj). Throughout the full 90 minutes, they proudly waved a flag bearing their club’s emblem and the inscription “KVSC 1907.” The Kolozsvári Vasutas Sport Club (KVSC), or Kolozsvár Railway Workers’ Sports Club, was founded under the Kingdom of Hungary, a testament to the many athletic organizations that once thrived across the Carpathian Basin.

At the Romanian Cup final in Arad this past May, that same flag fluttered in the stands of Neumann Ferenc Stadium. For a brief moment, it even passed through eager hands in the crowd. Nearby, the year “1907” appeared again, scrawled in a rougher style on a Romanian national tricolor alongside the words “CFR Cluj”, another nod to the Kolozsvári Vasutas legacy. The air buzzed with Romanian songs, punctuated by Hungarian curses after a missed shot or a questionable referee call. Nearly every fan sported a shirt with “KVSC” emblazoned across it. A young girl shouted, “Lupta, Csefere!”, Romanian for “Fight, CFR!”, while her burgundy scarf, tied around her waist, featured an old team photo and the Hungarian phrase, “God bless the Hungarians!”

This scene captures the reality of Trianon and Transylvania today, a present shaped by the past, one that stirs deep emotions in songs, speeches, and social media posts across the Hungarian world. It’s no wonder why. The words of Hungarian writer Wass Albert, among others, resonate powerfully, giving voice to the enduring pain of the Trianon decision. Yet, amid the crowd, where Hungarian voices mingled with Romanian cheers, anger and bitterness gave way to something different: a sense of opportunity, a glimpse of potential.

The focus shouldn’t linger solely on mourning what was lost. Instead, it’s time to look ahead. Beyond Hungary’s current borders, the mission isn’t just about regions where Hungarians form tight-knit communities. It’s also about places where their presence endures, even if not dominant.

This calls for a bold shift in thinking. The old mindset of “this belongs to us because of history” must evolve into a vision that embraces the future. Far from surrender, this approach opens the door to growth, expanding the cultural space where Hungarian identity can thrive. The starting point is clear: though Transylvania may not officially belong to Hungary today, the KVSC flag, the scarf, and the sound of Hungarian speech reveal its latent potential to be reclaimed.

These small but vivid signs make a powerful point: Transylvania isn’t solely Romanian soil, and Hungarians aren’t just passing through, as some might assume. The same holds true across all the territories once torn away from Hungary; everywhere, traces of Hungarian life remain. Far from fading, this presence flows like a hidden stream, slipping beneath the rocks only to carve its path underground, ready to resurface with renewed strength.

The past deserves respect, care, and preservation where it’s due. But it’s not a place to dwell. June 4th stands as the darkest day in Hungarian memory, a tragedy that demands remembrance and recognition. Yet, on every other day, and perhaps even on that one, the effort must turn toward dismantling the legacy Trianon left behind. Hungarian identity should rise again, breaking through where it seems to vanish among Transylvania’s rugged terrain, visible not just to those who sense its quiet stirrings but to all. Rather than clinging to nostalgic sorrow, the moment calls for a hopeful, ambitious outlook, both within Hungary’s borders and beyond.

When Hungarians can reclaim this spirit, as they did 1,100 years ago when they settled the Carpathian Basin, the chance will come to restore what was once theirs.