The Grand Cross Knights wear in addition, on the left side of the breast, a cross embroidered with silver, in the centre of which is seen the obverse of the badge, surrounded by a wreath of oak-leaves (No. 5.)
The Commanders carry the decoration, suspended by a narrow ribbon, round the neck, without the star; while the Knights wear it, by a small and narrow ribbon, at the buttonhole.
The Grand and Commander-crosses are to be presented only to persons of high and ancient nobility, or to high functionaries of the State; while that of the Knights may be conferred upon the inferior nobility.
The annual festival is celebrated on St. Stephen's Day (26th December), or on the following Sunday.
The Costume of all the Knights, at public processions, consists of a long mantle of green velvet, bordered with ermine, and lined with crimson taffetas. 'The under-garment and the cap are of crimson velvet; the latter is edged with ermine, and ornamented with heron-feathers, placed in a red and green enamelled sheath.
The under-garment of the Knights of the Grand Cross is richly covered with embroidered oak leaves, while that of the Commanders, and simple Knights, has an embroidered border, the only distinction being in the size of the border, which, in the last, is somewhat smaller. (Plate V. Tab. II. No. 14.)
The embroidery represents oak leaves closely joined to each other, being emblematic of honour for civil services.
The Knights of the Grand Cross wear, in addition, on the festivals, or on any other solemn occasion, a golden collar, the links consisting alternately of the initials of St. Stephen and the founder of the Order, with the Hungarian crown between them. In the centre is the Golden Eagle, the bearing of
