Last weekend Lithuanians in Ireland took part in festivities for their annual day of independence. The next one is due – in just three weeks, writes Viktor Posudnevsky
The proud Baltic nation of Lithuania has a lot to celebrate each year – with two separate independence days.
The first, on 16 February, is the Day of Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. It marks Lithuania’s declaration of independence from the Russian Empire and German occupation in 1918.
But just three weeks later, Lithuanians again celebrate their freedom and sovereignty in what is called the Day of the Restitution of Independence of Lithuania, marking the country’s separation from the Soviet Union in 1990. Both dates are public holidays.
The Lithuanian Association of Ireland prepared a programme of events for the former occasion last weekend. On Saturday 14 February a special history lesson took place in Lithuanian schools controlled by the association, with the aim of explaining the significance of the event to Lithuanian children growing up in Ireland.
And on Sunday an evening of poetry was staged in Saint Teresa’s Church, close to Dublin’s Grafton Street, which included recitals, readings and live performances.
Ridas Bieliajevas, president of the Lithuanian Association, said: “It is very important that our kids know the significance of this day and how it is meant to be celebrated. Unfortunately many Lithuanians, especially those who live far from their homeland, are starting to forget their history.”
Bieliajevas took part in the Sunday event as a member of the Lietuviškas Dobilas (Lithuanian Shamrock) band of singers and musicians.
ArÅ«nas Teišerskis, also of the Lithuanian Association, said that this year’s 16 February held a special significance as it marked the 60th anniversary of an historic declaration of independence made after World War II.
After the war, Lithuania was annexed to the Soviet Union, but nationalist resistance groups formed which kept fighting the Red Army until the 1950s. On February 1949 the leaders of the underground movement published a call to the Lithuanian people asking them to honour Lithuania’s independence, achieved in 1918, and to resist the Soviet Union.
“The events of March 11 [Lithuania’s second independence day] took place fairly recently and many people took part in them,” said Teišerskis. “However the other date, 16 February, is probably even more important, and it is vital that we keep it in our minds.”