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The Lithuanian Song Festival takes place every four years and is an event dedicated to the preservation of Lithuanian cultural (linguistic) heritage through the showcasing of its national song and dance traditions. It is simply spectacular! This year’s 2018 Song Festival commemorates the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuanian Independence (centenary 1918-2018), or Atkurtai Lietuvai 100, so it carries a particular significance for the people of Lithuania and all Lithuanians living abroad.
Overview of the Lithuanian Song Festival
The 2018 Lithuanian Song Festival took place from June 30th – July 6th in both Kaunas (June 30th only) and Vilnius (in Vingis Park for the duration of the event). There were other satellite festivals held across the entire country as well as celebrations world-wide. The ultimate significance of the festival dates lies in the fact that it culminated on July 6th which also marks Lithuanian Statehood Day, the day the Lithuanian nation was founded under King Mindaugas in 1253 (that’s 756 years).
Check out the Welcome Video that was released by the Lithuanian National Cultural Center (LNKC: Lietuvos Nacionalinis Kultūros Centras – homepage).
Opening Day of the Lithuanian Song Festival
The opening day of the Song Festival customarily takes place in Kaunas to pay homage to the fact that Kaunas was the original host of the festival back in 1924. The 2018 Dainų Šventė opened on June 30th in the city of Kaunas and was then hosted by the capital of Vilnius for the duration of the festival until July 6th. The events included an opening concert, folk art exhibitions, vocal ensemble performances, a theater day, a dance day, and several celebratory processions. For a full list and the official “programme” visit the 2018 Lithuanian Song Festival homepage.
Each year approximately 30,000 people participate in this Song Festival, which is quite astounding. According to DELFI: “all in all, 36,000 people are expected to take part in the festival, the organizers say. And the audience will be at least ten times bigger” (source: delfi.lt website, emphasis added). If the participants (singers, dancers, vendors, organizers) total 36,000 people, that means that there will be more than 360,000 people attending the various week-long events!
As I watch these videos and view the many pictures that have been shared around various news outlets and social media sites, it really hits home how wonderful an event this truly is. It is so special to take the time out of our busy lives, pause a moment and to share in the meaning of what events like these represent on a deeper level – they are far and away from the barrage of the tawdry, slanted mainstream media and are a return to a wholesome kind of mindset.
Below is a video documenting part of the July 6th parade through the streets of Vilnius. Notice the signs that say LIETUVA: that’s the Lithuanian name for Lithuania. Also notice that the parade is organized by REGION which are heralded by the white rectangular signs; although some of them are hard to read you can make out each Lithuanian region as they pass by. If you are familiar with the regional and county coats of arms you can spot their flags as they are proudly parading by.
Song Festival Participants and Lithuanian Ethno-Regions
Speaking of regions, much of the Lithuanian Song Festival is centered around celebrating the various ethno-regions of the country; in fact, all of the nightly performances were arranged by region representing the length and breadth of the country. According to the LNKC the 5 major regions of Lithuania are: “Aukštaitija, Žemaitija, Dzūkija, Suvalkija and Klaipėda (source: LNKC website, my translation).
For me this is a chance to learn about my own heritage. The videos and images have really captivated me and have inspired me to delve deeper into understanding what festivals like this represent to Lithuanians at home and those who are a part of its diaspora. This has involved a fair amount of time and energy in that one must inevitably cross the language barrier in order to do so!
The Song Festival’s participants included people from all over the world, many of whom traveled to Lithuania just to take part in the festivities. There is a burgeoning tourist industry in Lithuania focused on those who wish to reconnect with their Lithuanian past and the Song Festival is definitely a huge draw for those who have never set foot in the land of their ancestors, as well as many families that return there on an annual basis.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė gave the keynote address and even participated in many of events over the duration of the week. She could be seen gracing the city of Vilnius to the delight of many a fellow Lithuanian.
Inspirational Lithuanian Song Festival Videos
Below are a few VIDEOS cultivated from around the web showing you a few of the major events, some in their entirety. The first one below is an introductory video to the 2018 Song Festival (Dainų Šventė) giving you a quick glimpse of some of the amazing highlights of singing, dancing, and of course, the traditional dress that you will see.
Introductory Highlight Video
This following video is of the Ensembles’ Evening which took place in Kalnai Park on July 4th, 2018. It’s in its entirety and one of the most inspiring mixes of movement and light I’ve seen short of the Olympics. The ensemble arrangements range from modern to traditional multi-part polyphonic vocals called sutartinės.
Ensembles Evening Video: Sutarinės
The next video covers the July 5th, 2018 events which featured Dance Day. This is a special treat to watch how the various dance groups move with such complexity and grace forming such intricate patterns reminiscent of the delicate karpiniai. I think the Dainų Šventė website sums this video up best:
“ ‘Rolling the Sun Circle’ consists of four parts, artistic dialogues of dance groups
of all ages, conveying the meanings of national symbols, expressions of natural vitality, set-up of routine works and ritual celebrations in the cycle of the a year, the joy of youth and the feeling of unity of all Lithuanians coming from all parts of the world. The final composition of 8 000 participants will visualise the resistance of the nation, its vitality, the desire to follow the road of progress and renovation, to overcome daily challenges together.”
Dainų Šventė Dance Day Video!
On July 3rd, 2018 was a special treat featuring a very Lithuanian musical instrument called the kanklės, which is technically a chordophone. The instrumental plucking was accompanied by operatic male and female singing. The acoustics in St. John’s Church in Vilnius are stunning. This Song Festival brought together over 800 kanklės players on Folklore Day.
Dainų Šventė Folklore Day Video: Kanklės
Lastly is the culmination of the 2018 Lithuanian Song Festival that took place in Vingis Park on July 6th, 2018 (Statehood Day). The theme of this event was “May the Unity Blossom.” For more cool videos check out LRT, Lithuania’s national television and radio website, including the Kaunas Song Day which kicked off the entire Song Fest week on July 30th, 2018.
Lithuanian Song Festival Final Day: Statehood Celebration
The 2018 Lithuanian Song Festival (Lietuvos Šimtmečio Dainų Šventė) is only one of many events that are happening this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lithuanian Independence. There have been many other powerful events that have happened to date, some even by the favor of fortune! The country’s centennial of deoccupation in 1918 has been a continued source of strength for this deeply-rooted, strong, yet beautiful nation.
#AtkurtaiLietuvai100, #RestoredLithuania100 #Lithuania #100metų, #LT100, #lietuva, #lithuania100, #songfestival, #DainųŠventė.
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