There is a tree in the middle of Budapest, which was promoted on 25 June 2009 from being one of many straight into Jacko’s memorial tree. Since then it has become a place of pilgrimage.
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The tree stands in one of the most popular parks in Budapest, at Erzsébet tér (Elizabeth Square), which is one of the favorite leisure places of foreigners and young people in Budapest.
Plenty of people come here every day to have a cold drink on Fröccsterasz (“Spritzer terrace”), have a party at the Akvárium Klub, hang out by the fountain, have a picnic on the grass under the Budapest Eye or just have a walk among the beautiful trees.
HIStory of Michael Jackson Memorial Tree
Michael Jackson visited Budapest altogether three times, first in 1994, when the promotional video of the HIStory album was shot at Heroes’ Square. Then he returned to our capital twice due to his world tour two years later. His first and only show in Budapest was in 1996 in Népstadion, which is called the Puskás Ferenc Stadion today.
Jacko stayed in the same suite at Kempinski every time, where he often stood by the window, waving and offering messages to his fans, who camped in the park in front of the hotel for up to 24 hours and was chanting his name.
After his death, fans inaugurated the tree next to which they had spent so many hours as a Michael Jackson Memorial Tree, which was also licensed by District V Municipality. Flowers have been planted around the tree, candles have been lit ever since, photos, posters, and messages have been pinned to the tree trunk, and from time to time even one or two Jacko Pepsi are left at the stump of the tree. If you spend some time relaxing on one of the benches surrounding the tree, it’s quite likely that one of MJ’s fans will stop by. Some of them are easily recognized by a hat, or by their white socks and black shoes, but I have already seen an elderly lady buzzing around the tree and taking care of the flowers.
Although the last years of Jacko’s life was surrounded by scandals, one thing is for sure: if I listen to his music and watch his clips, I still have to say that Michael Jackson was a genius!
How to Get There
H-1051 Budapest, Erzsébet tér 7.
