CULTURE

There exists a sound reason for saying that culture is the mainstay of the survival of Lithuania. The state, powerful during the Middle Ages and later weakened, was reborn with the same name in the 20th century, solely thanks to the fact that its main ethnic group, the Lithuanians, had managed to preserve their national identity, in other words their culture, language, literature, art and traditions.
From this identity sprouted all the new forms of creativity, having assimilated the modernism of the 20th century and current post-modernism.

The national culture and higher forms of art created on the foundation it provided, expanded and were consolidated during the interval between the two world wars. During the years of Soviet occupation, culture became a shelter of spiritual resistance. Culture assisted Lithuanians in protecting their identity. Ethnic culture was maintained and professional artistic culture was created cleverly and selflessly and often through the use of Soviet institutions. The new rebirth which commenced in 1988 was capable of delivering victory also because all of the creative forces of the nation had merged.

In May 1990, immediately following the declaration of independence, the largest Cultural Congress in the history of Lithuania assembled in Vilnius. Several thousand delegates debated the status of culture and discussed the tasks the nation would encounter during the 21st century.

A number of Lithuanian artists have gained world-wide recognition for their nation: Stasys Eidrigevicius, artist; Vytautas Kasuba, sculptor; Muza Rubackyte, musician; Ingeborga Dapkunaite, actress, Vytautas Zalakevicius, film director.

Theatre. Directors of Lithuanian theatre have won international recognition.

Professional theatre started a hundred years ago in 1899, when the Lithuanian play "Amerika fir/Yie" ("America in the Baths") was first performed. The National Drama Theatre was established in Kaunas in 1920 as JUOIO Vai/kaus Dramos Vaidykla (Juozas Vaitkus' Drama Performers).

Now Lithuania has 13 professional theatres, some state orchestras. chamber groups and some large art collections. Some of the latter are well-known to foreign experts. The Lithuanian Theatre of Youth is especially popular not only in Lithuania but abroad as well. The Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra under the head of prof. Sondeckis is well-known internationally. These groups spend much time on tours outside of their country.

Arts. Lithuania has 53 museums. The initiator of modern fine art in Lithuania is Mikolojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis (1875-1911) - a painter and composer, whose name is listed in international art encyclopedias. His cosmogony-type symbolic painting and graphic arts comprise modern and folk themes intertwined with each other. The paintings of Ciurlionis are in a museum in Kaunas named after him.
The most valuable collection of works of art is in the Mykolas Zilinskas galery in Kaunas.

There are many impressive statues standing in Lithuania's cities and towns. They are made by Lithuanian sculptors of different generations, some erected during recent decades. During the Soviet occupation, hatred prevailed towards "bourgeois" art and many old monuments were destroyed. Some of them were renovated after the independence of Lithuania was restored. A number of prominent Soviet-time statues were brought to the Park of Soviet Sculpture (Groto Parkas), not far from Druskininkai. Museums, hotels, restaurants and modern offices, display the latest works by Lithuanian painters, sculptors and graphic artists.

Literature. The first Lithuanian book - Catechismus by Martynas Mazvydas was published in 1547 in Koenigsberg (now Kaliningrad) in so-called Lithuania Minor that was ruled by Germans at that time. Several proponents of Lithuanian culture descended from this region. The initiator of secular Lithuanian literature, Kristijonas Donelaitis (1714-1780), priest and poet, author of the "Metai" ("The Year") poem lived and created in Lithuania Minor.

Modern Lithuanian literature, that survived the post-Soviet crisis, is recovering now with new talent coming forth. A teacher of present-day literature - poet Justinas Marcinkevicius - awakened national consciousness in Soviet times with his works about Lithuania's past, such as Mindaugas, Mazvydas, and Katedra, and he took part in the movement of national rebirth.

There are numerous days of the year for folk festivals, but because of the large number of sad Lithuanian songs, an impression is formed that this nation is in mourning. On the contrary, Lithuanians are a relatively cheerful people, and they know how to have a good time. The most characteristic feature of folk festivals is the procession in colorful masks along town streets, masked performances and carnival dances. Fabulous folk festivals occur during the Kaziukas Fair in Vilnius in early spring, during Shrovetide (seeing off the winter) throughout Lithuania, espe­cially in Zemaitija (western and north-western parts of Lithuania), as well as during the autumnal equinox in September, when day and night are of equal length. As the mythologists say, many different miracles take place during the equinox. The grandest folk festivals occur about every five years. These are the folk dance and folk song festivals held in Vilnius. 20,000-30,000 Lithuanian dancers and singers come from all over the globe. Choruses are a thousand strong; dancers take over an entire stadium. Songfests first took root in 1924.

Music. Choires are also very popular in Lithuania. Some professional and many amateur choires are in the country. Every five years they take part in the Festival of Songs.

Many choires from all over the country , folk dance ensembles, countryside orchestras, orchestras of wind instruments and folk instruments. The festivals are really very impressive. Specially designed stage in Vilnius was constructed for these grand festivals.

The famous artists come to visit Lithuania with various concerts. Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda and other larger cities of Lithuania have a many art showrooms. Modern Lithuanian and foreign artists exibit their works in them.

Theatres, concert halls, exibitions are open all the year round. while in summer many competitions, festivals are being held. Almost any time you can choose event you wish to visit or to buy valuable piece of art.

National costumes.

Woman suit in 18th - 19th century, Lithuania minor (Koenigsberg).
Bride with headdress "kykas".