Act of Independence

Lithuania celebrates its Act of Independence on 16 February which included this concert in Cathedral Square.

Formally, "The Act of Reinstating Independence of Lithuania" (with the emphasis on the "reinstatement" part) it was (to quote Wikipedia) "signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania" - as the formal successor to the historical Grand Duchy of Lithuania.  This time though with the state organised on democratic rather than aristocratic principles.

It was a complicated period as Wikipedia continues:  "The path to the Act was long and complex because the German Empire exerted pressure on the Council to form an alliance. The Council had to carefully maneuver between the Germans, whose troops were present in Lithuania, and the demands of the Lithuanian people.  The immediate effects of the announcement of Lithuania's re-establishment of independence were limited. Publication of the Act was prohibited by the German authorities, and the text was distributed and printed illegally. The work of the Council was hindered, and Germans remained in control over Lithuania. The situation changed only when Germany lost World War I in the fall of 1918. In November 1918 the first Cabinet of Lithuania was formed, and the Council of Lithuania gained control over the territory of Lithuania."  

An independent Lithuania thus became a reality though not for long; subsequent events (WWII and occupation by the USSR) took away their independence until 1990 when they were able finally to get rid of all invasive parties.  More from the ever helpful Wikipedia:  "Lithuania, breaking away from the Soviet Union, stressed that it was simply re-establishing the independent state that existed between the world wars and that the Act never lost its legal power."

Basically, the Act states "leave us alone to get on with governing ourselves" - as this excerpt makes clear:

- The Council of Lithuania in its session of February 16, 1918 decided unanimously to address the governments of Russia, Germany, and other states with the following declaration:


- The Council of Lithuania, as the sole representative of the Lithuanian nation, based on the recognized right to national self-determination, and on the Vilnius Conference's resolution of September 18–23, 1917, proclaims the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania, founded on democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital, and declares the termination of all state ties which formerly bound this State to other nations.

In further celebration of the holiday on 16 February, Lithuanians light 16 bonfires along the main city thoroughfare, Gediminas Avenue, and hold a concert of traditional and classical music (I could have reached down from my seat and almost touched the president).  See the added blips.

It was a full day and we spent a lot of time exploring the former Jewish Ghetto - a dark part of Lithuania's history.  A few blips on that added too.