Day 19. The Day of Restoration of Lithuania's Independence. February 16. Part I.

February 16 - it's a great day for Lithuania and for all Lithuanians around the world.
It is one of 3 most important days in the year.
And 16 February 1918 - is one of three or four most important dates in the history of Lithuania.
February 16  - it's The Day of Restoration of Lithuania's Independence.
All residents and visitors of Vilnius were offered to choose something from abundance of activities from the social project Geltona žalia raudona.

The Commemoration began at 8:30 a.m. with laying flowers on the tombs the Signatories of the Act of Independence at the Rasos cementry.
At noon the City Centre was stuck with hundreds of celebrating people and the traffic jam was incredible. All people were going to the Simonas Daukantas Square where at noon the Ceremony of Raising of the flags of the three Baltic States took place and the President Dalia Grybauskaitė gave her speech. Two NATO fighter jets (aircrafts) flew over the square.

I began my celebrating with a free walking tour which I signed to on Geltona zalia raudona.
It began also at noon and was called: Famous personalities that were living in Vilnius (desprition of the tour comes in the next post:the Day of Independence. Part II). The walking tour lasted for 1 hoour and 40 minutes.

Then I joined the Commemoration of Restoration of Lithuania's Independence in the front of the House of the Signatories which began at 2 p.m.

Hundreds of people have gathered there.

The actor Rimantas Bagdzevičius read the Act of the Independence from the balcony of the House of the Signatories.

Also, Mr. Vytautas Landsbergis gave his speech.

Lateron, I went to the Ceremony of Commemoration of the Lithuanian Partisans Declaration of February 16, 1949 and laying flowers near the monument of Jonas Žemaitis on the square in the front of the Ministry of the National Defence.

Of course, on that day, all people could choose from far more activities that were listed on Geltona zalia raudona. The celebration were closed with the grand concert at 8:30 p.m. on the Cathedral square. 

And finally, one more thing: even Google greeted Lithuania with February 16!!!

And Lithuanians each year are more and more happy with February 16. 

Day 18. Rasos Cemetery. Vilnius cemeteries

#VilniusCemeteries

Well, it's a bit odd to write about a cementry on St. Valentine Day, but, on the other hand we all will all die, sooner or later. Lovers, not lovers and all.

The Rasos Cemetery is worth a separate post because it is one the oldest cemeteries in Vilnius.

Many famous Lithuanians, Poles and Belarusians are burried there.

It was establised in 1801. 

Nowadays many tombs are deteriorating and funds for the cementry preservation are needed. ( the Vilnius municipality has promised to implemet a plan of the cemetery conservation till 2018). 

A tomb of Jonas Basanavičius (called a Patriarch of the Nation).

Each year on February 16 flowers are layed here. 

A tomb of a writer Vincas Mykolaitis - Putinas

A tomb of a painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis

The Rasos Cementry has a significant meaning for all Poles. In 1920 a war cementry was built there. Polish soldiers who fell in Polish - Soviet War and Polish - Lithuanian War are burried here. Also,  mother of Józef Piłsudski -  Maria Piłsudska and the heart of Polish Marshal Józef Piłsudski rest there.

So, If you are a Pole and you are travelling to Vilnius, the Rasos Cementry is one of the YOU MUST SEE places. And all local Polish tourist guides will definitely take you there. 

A walk from the Old town from the Town Hall Square takes about 20 minutes. 

You should walk towards The Gate of Dawn untill you see the Basilian Gate (more info) on the right, then you should turn left into Subačiaus street and walk till you pass the Subačius Gate ( one of the gates in the historical Wall of Vilnius). Thus you will leave the Old town and walk straight till the closed and deserted Church of the Missionaries.

Church of the Missionaries.

Then turn right, go upstairs, and go straight on Rasos street. You will pass on you left: the Church of th Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Vilnius Correction House, you will walk over the railway and finally reach the Rasos Cementry.

Church of th Sacred Heart of Jesus

Have a really nice walk and a contemplating time in the oldest cementry in Vilnius.

American in Vilnius

I've found this video accidentally yesterday.

American in Vilnius. Evan is staying in Vilnius for 4 days and 4 nights.

He is staying at Novotel Vilnius Centre hotel with a wonderfull view on the Vincas Kudirka Square.

And it was, I think, around the end of the summer. 

Ok, here comes the video.

Enjoy watching!

PS.

Dear visitors,

4 days is too much ( or too long) for Vilnius, unless you have a plenty of time or your plane leaves only on the 5th day in the morning. On these 4 days you can easily travel to Trakai, Kaunas, or Klaipeda, or even to the Curonian Spit. 

Day 17. UŽGAVĖNĖS or Lithuanian Pancake Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday or Grass Day

Užgavėnės is a Lithuanian festivity celebrated on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (the first day of the Lent).

In the capital it was celebrated on Saturday on Gediminas Avenue.
On Tuesday, celebration started on Daukantas Square just in the front of the Presidential Palace, and at 6 p.m. it moved to the Yard of Mokytoju namai ( the Teachers' House).

Source: official website of Teachers' House.

Also, Uzgavenes were celebrated in my dearest Pilaite on the meadow in front of the Pilaite Church, at 6 pm.

Some pics will come later.

Morė - an effigy of winter (a symbol of evil and darkness) is ready for burning

Morė ( or in other countries e.g. Poland Marzanna s

few seconds before burning

Morė is burning in a fire. It's believed that Spring will come soon

PANCAKES

During the day, at work we had a tasty Pancake Lunch. We ordered 90 American pancakes with various sauses ( sweet and not so much) from Gusto Blynine. Everything was so delicious!

The INDEPENDENCE DAY of LITHUANIA is SOON! on 16 February

The Independence Day of Lithuania ( officialy Day of Restoration of Lithuania's Independence) is SOON!
Just next Tuesday! On 16 February.
Let's prepare!
Even the President of Lithuania invites all people our small country to celebrate the 16 February joyfully and in a creative way!

A social project of  for 16 February: Geltona Žalia Raudona (!!!)

VILNIUS COMEDY FEST 2016 and KITAS KAMPAS

Vilnius Comedy Fest 2016 took place on 21-24 January in Compensa Concert Hall.
It was the 2nd Comedy Fest.
I haven't participated in all shows of the Fest, except the first one - the opening show by Kitas Kampas on 21 January.
Kitas Kampas - the only one professional improvisation theatre in Lithuania. And these guys are just indredible! The show was amazing! Funny, enetertaining, relaxing, positive and so bright.
Kitas Kampas was established in 2009, and one of the actors who are from the beginning is Kiril Glusajev. The main actor and creator of the theatre, I guess, is Audrius Bružas. Other acors are ( those which I have seen on the stage) Balys Latenas, Martynas Nedzinskas, and the actrees, the vocal of Liudni slibinai - Aistė Lasytė. 
Kitas Kampas had two guests on the stage nad they were two well known singers Martynas Kavaliauskas and Saulius Urbonavicius - Samas, who sang some songs with the actors.

And once again, it was so amazing and far more than I've expected.
I promise to myself to see them again.

KAZIUKAS (SAINT CASIMIR'S) FAIR IS COMMING! People of Vilnius and visitors of the capital get ready!

People of Vilnius and all visitors get ready!
The biggest fair of the year - SAINT CASIMIR'S FAIR is comming!

Soon! On 4 - 6 March! Post about Kaziukas fair.