Not many hearts fluttering in Lithuania this Feb. 16th

VILNIUS – On Feb.16, Lithuanians celebrated the country's Independence Day with a day of rest and fireworks in Vilnius' Vingiu Park. The holiday commemorates the signing, in Vilnius, of Lithuania's 1918 declaration of independence from Russia.

A bit of background

Some national holidays are instantly recognizable for the weighty chain of historical events they triggered. The adoption of Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, touched off the American Revolution that eventually gave rise to the world's largest superpower.

Revolutionary mobs stormed Paris' infamous Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, sparking a wave of nationalist and anti-royalist movements that spread eastward throughout the course of the 19th century – the 'springtime of nations' that eventually gave rise to World War I. Then United States President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that national self-determination was one of the major issues of the conflict.

Indeed, it was out of the ashes of the First World War that Lithuania emerged as an independent state. Pro-independence movements had been agitating against Tsarist Russian rule for decades. Russia's repressive countermeasures had only resulted in hardening their resolve. By the end of the war, the spent militaries of Germany and Bolshevik Russia could do very little to prevent the country from deciding its own future.

Somewhat confusingly for the foreign observer, Lithuania will celebrate another annual holiday on March 11 marking the 1990 restoration of independence following 46 years of Soviet domination.

What today's Lithuanians think

A random sampling of young people in Lithuania reveals that they are basically indifferent about Feb. 16.

"I would like it to be happier, but I don't really feel anything in my heart about this day. It's really just a day off work, more of a commemoration than a holiday or feast. Right now I'm more concerned about day-to-day survival rather than celebrating independence," said Ruta, a 21-year-old law student. Her 19-year-old friend, Jurga, was even more blunt. "I have no feelings about this day. I'm off work and that's it," she said.

Tomas, a 23-year-old government employee, echoes this view.

"Feb. 16 is too far back in history for me to feel any joy. I won't be walking around waving a flag that day," he said. For Tomas, Jan. 13, the day Soviet troops killed 14 citizens defending the Vilnius TV tower in 1991, is of far greater significance. "That day is more important for me than even Mar. 11. Everyone in this city feels like they participated. I feel strong emotions that day."

His friend Alkas, 22, agrees about Feb 16.

"All I remember about it from my childhood is that celebrating it was banned. Thinking about it brings back memories of Soviet repression and just makes me feel glum. I'll probably go out to a pub with my friends, but we will be socializing, not celebrating independence," he said.

Andrius is a 28-year-old archeologist who has been living in Vilnius for three years. He was born and raised in Canada, as his parents fled Lithuania during World War II and eventually settled in Toronto.

"I am biased about Feb. 16 as the emigre community in Canada celebrates it every year. My parents obviously had some influence as to how I feel about it. Now that I'm here, I'll go to the events commemorating it out of curiosity. But March 11 is now the important date, as Feb. 16 is too far back in history," he said.

Aleksandras, 22, a taxi driver of Ukrainian parentage, is unemotional about the holiday.

"It's just a day like any other. Lithuania has been independent for a long time now. Why do we have to celebrate this every year?" he asked.

The older generation of Lithuanians who lived under Stalin, do have a somewhat different view. For Joana, a 60-year-old pensioner, it is an important day.

"For me it is meaningful. Under Stalin, my mother would cover all the windows in the house and lock the door. She would then piece together the three stripes of the Lithuanian flag that she kept in different rooms and we would sing hymns. This was quite dangerous as the authorities could simply make people disappear in those days," she said. She is sympathetic towards today's youth. "We never celebrated Valentine's day before. It's a happier day for young people, especially with the present economic situation, so I understand their indifference about Feb 16," said Joana.

Her friend Brone, 60, a semi-retired choral teacher, has a similar story. Her parents kept a plaster Vytis (Lithuania's coat of arms) in the barn where no one could see it. Her birthday is also on Feb. 16th, which makes her happy.

"I understand that the economy has our young people feeling down about it, but this will pass, and things will improve. Frankly, I would rather have to eat bread and drink water for the rest of my life than go back to the old days, so I will be celebrating," she said.