On July 6th - a time trip to interwar of Šiauliai

In 2023 July 6 from 12 o'clock in Šiauliai, there will be events dedicated to the Statehood (the coronation of King Mindaugas of Lithuania) and National Anthem Day. The celebration will be marked by a solemn commemoration and the ceremony of raising the flag of the Republic of Lithuania in "Prisikėlimas" Square, and immediately after that, at 1:00 p.m., the educational event of the living history of the city "Smetoniškos Mindauginės", which has become a tradition, will be held in Saulės Laikrodis Square. Not only the abundance and variety of activities will invite you to celebrate the State Day, but also at 9 p.m. the "National Anthem" will be sung. The organizers hope that the abundance and variety of activities will not only invite residents of Šiauliai and city guests to have a meaningful time, but also remind them of the history of the city and the country.
The organizer - Šiauliai Cultural Center. The project is financed by the Lithuanian Culture Council and Šiauliai City Municipality. Informational sponsors: media group "Etaplius", "Šiaulių kraštas", "Saulės radijas", "Miestos noviesinos", "Owexx", "Šiaulių televizija".
Events are free.

The 6th of July is State Day (the coronation of King Mindaugas of Lithuania) and National Anthem Day. Back in a year of 1253 Duke Gediminas of Lithuania received permission from the then Pope to be crowned - he became the first and only king of Lithuania. Since 1991 the whole country celebrates this national holiday, which Šiauliai also celebrates every year. This year Šiauliai Cultural Center invites you not only to the solemn ceremony of raising the flag of the Republic of Lithuania, but also to the educational event of the living history of the city "Smetoniškos Mindauginės", which is organized every two years.

"We invite you to immerse yourself in a journey through time, which will allow you to travel to the bright historical period of Šiauliai - the interwar period. The city then grew and developed rapidly, especially trade, industry, crafts and culture flourished. On July 6th, Šiauliai residents and city guests will have a unique opportunity to remember the spirit of those times at Saulės Laikrodis Square, which will be conveyed by fun and interesting entertainment. We hope that the created atmosphere will remind, and some will familiarize with the history of our nation", says the director of Šiauliai Cultural Center Deimantė Bačiulė.

The events organized by the Šiauliai Cultural Center will be introduced by St. Mass in the Cathedral of the Saint Apostles Peter and Paul. 12 o'clock A solemn ceremony of raising the flag of the Republic of Lithuania will take place in "Prisikėlimas" Square, where the Šiauliai Wind Orchestra (artistic director and conductor S. Vaičiulionis, conductor G. Brūzga), the folk dance ensemble of the Šiauliai Cultural Center "Kalatinis" (artistic director I. Šerpytienė, E. Račkauskas), and the members of Šiauliai Cultural Center chamber choir "Atžalynas" (art director M. Žalalis) will proudly sing the national anthem.

After the ceremony, the participants will line up in a procession and travel to the stylized interwar town of Šiauliai in Saulės Laikrodis Square. Until the evening, residents of Šiauliai and guests of the city will have fun entertainment. "When you arrive in the town, don't miss the opportunity to stop by the local shops, visit the post office, pharmacy or police station - in each of them you can try activities that will present the unique life of Šiauliai in the interwar period," says Deimantė Bačiulė, director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center. 

The visitors of the celebration will be invited to visit a kindergarten, to gain knowledge in an elementary school, perhaps to join a wrestling club. The "Miško broliai" club will invite you to get acquainted with military equipment, weapons and participate in the "Smetoniškas tiras", while the secrets of tying knots and lighting a fire will be taught by the Šiauliai Scouts Tunt. Throughout the day, there will be an opportunity to enjoy interwar films and take pictures in the photo studio. Visitors will be able to visit the potter's and leather workshops, the "Valerijonas" pharmacy, the court, the post office and even try the "sober chair" at the police station. Shops and bakeries will be open all day in the town, where you can buy everything: from cheeses to cakes.

There will be no shortage of bustle and good mood in the town, as visitors will be entertained by a concert program of music and dance presented by the Šiauliai Cultural Center's folk dance ensemble "Kalatinis" (artistic directors I. Šerpytienė, E. Račkauskas), Joniškis Cultural Center's romance group "Ašalia" (director R. Kipšaitė-Balčiūnienė), dance group "Vita Dance" (director V. Adomėnaitė-Butnorienė), groups "The Ditties", "Rolling Box Band" and the Šiauliai Wind Orchestra (artistic director and conductor S. Vaičiulionis, conductor G. Brūzga) and a musical program by soloist Dainotas Varnas.

The visitors of the interwar town of Šiauliai will be treated to a novelty - the performance of "Šypsena", a group from the circus unit of Šakiai Cultural Center. More than ten talented young circus artists will present impressive performances that will not leave indifferent even those who have seen everything. Guests of the interwar town of Šiauliai will have the opportunity to admire aerial acrobatics, unicycle performances, balancing and many other circus fun.

Authenticity will be added to the event by witty and humorous live performances, presented by a group of professional actors together with Šiauliai Cultural Center adult amateur theater "Durys" (artistic director V. Dargis), theater studio "Gūžta" (artistic director L. Jankauskaitė-Peleckienė) and Šiauliai School of Arts "Kompania šauni" (art director D. and V. Dargiai) as actors. The guests of the town will be able to admire six live performances in different places. At the stage, it will be possible to see the "Arrival of President Antanas Smetona. Big Day", "Hot Hearts - Weak Hands" will be waiting at the wrestling club. Theatrical improvisation "Oh why, oh why did you knock on my motley granary" will be shown at the police station. At the courthouse, the story of Themis will be told by the live video "Who is Themis?", at the pharmacy - "Side effect", and at the post office you will be able to see the improvisation "Secret assured".

One of the most important highlights of the State Day will be the universal singing of the "National Anthem" together with Lithuanians all over the world, which will take place at 9 p.m. local time.

A detailed program of events can be found on the website www.siauliukc.lt.

The information is provided by Asta Vaitkienė, Head of the Event Organization Department of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, mobile. +370 671 42 901, e-mail asta.vaitkiene@siauliukc.lt.

Rolandas Parafinavičius and Edita Aleksandravičienė's photo.