28. July 2008.

The 183rd Anna Ball of Füred was opened Saturday night by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, József Gráf. It was full house again at the party of great tradition in Balatonfüred. More than 400 people were having fun in the halls and garden of the Anna Grand Hotel. A number of celebrities – well known artists and public figures – were present among the guests, as usual. And naturally, as it has always been traditionally, the sumptuous courses were served on services from Herend.

The Ernő Kiss prize, founded five years ago, was presented as part of the opening ceremony. The prize is awarded to persons who have done much for the cultural and intellectual life of Balatonfüred. This year the President of Duna Televízió, László Cselényi, received the prize from the Mayor of Balatonfüred, dr. István Bóka and the CEO of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory, dr. Attila Simon. The prize was a small Herend figurine portraying Ernő Kiss, one of the martyrs of Arad in the gala uniform of the Hannover Hussars. Incidentally, Kiss met Anna Krisztina Horváth, the woman whom he later married, at the very first Anna Ball.

At this ball of balls, this ball of great tradition, at the Anna Ball of Balatonfüred – the arriving ladies received numbered, limited edition porcelain hearts, as in all previous years.

This year the Queen of the Ball and her ladies were selected by a new system: from the 10 ladies selected by the expert jury the viewers of Duna Televízió decided who would be the queen and the court ladies by casting their vote by text messaging. Alíz Csizmadia, an 18 year old local student, was voted the Queen of the Ball. Kata Stumpf, an 18 year old student from Budapest, was voted first lady. Cecília Farkas, also an 18 year old university student from Dunaújváros, was voted second lady.

The Queen of the Ball received a chalice vase with a Victoria design made in Herend, a golden apple and a trip to Egypt. The ladies received smaller chalice vases with, respectively, Rothschild and Apponyi décors.

Since 1997 Herend Porcelain Manufactory has been the main sponsor of this oldest and most famous ball. Classical beauty and the nurturing of cultural values have always played major roles in the corporate culture of Herend Manufactory.