January 13 is a date deeply etched into Lithuania’s history and the memory of its people, and its significance is even greater in the context of today’s world events. Exactly 35 years ago, unarmed people stood up to defend their state, and 14 defenders of freedom sacrificed their lives for the freedom of us all. Every January, these events are remembered in Šiauliai through a commemoration filled with unity, solidarity, and respectful silence, when the city honors those who stood watch in defense of freedom on the January night of 1991. In the jubilee year – the 35th year of the Defenders of Freedom – the public is invited not only to remember historical events, but also to once again reflect on the price of freedom, its fragility, and the responsibility to protect it.
“January 13 is not only a page of history, but also a living lesson of values for today. It is a day when we remember how precious freedom is and what responsibility each of us bears in safeguarding it,” says Daina Kinčinaitienė, Head of the Culture Division of the Šiauliai City Municipality Administration.
On the evening of January 12, Šiauliai will become a space of memory and unity. At 5:30 PM, the Day of the Defenders of Freedom commemoration will take place in Resurrection Square. The General Povilas Plechavičius Riflemen’s 6th Territorial Unit (Šiauliai County) will carry burning torches – symbols of respect and remembrance. The fallen will be honored by the tolling of a bell, remembrance bonfires will burn, recalling the fateful January night when people’s unity proved stronger than weapons.
“Remembrance bonfires remind us not only of that dark night, but also of the courage, faith, and determination that burned in people’s hearts. This fire still unites us today in solidarity, silence, and responsibility for the freedom we have, understanding that it can be lost,” says Deimantė Bačiulė, Director of Šiauliai Cultural Center.
At the end of the evening, Resurrection Square will be filled with a concert by Jurga Šeduikytė and her band – a sensitive musical conclusion to the evening of remembrance, inviting reflection on the price of freedom and its value. Event participants will be treated to hot tea and military-style porridge – an invitation from officers of the Šiauliai Border Post of the Pagėgiai Border Guard Unit of the State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of the Interior to experience togetherness and human closeness. The solemnity and contemplation of the evening will continue with Holy Mass celebrated at 6:00 PM in the cathedral.
On the morning of January 13, the civic initiative “Light of Freedom” will continue in Šiauliai – city schools, institutions, organizations, and residents are invited to light remembrance candles in their windows as a sign of respect, memory, and unity. This initiative each year reminds us that January 13 is not just a historical date – it is a living foundation of values, relevant today as well.
On that day, the commemoration of the Day of the Defenders of Freedom will also take place in Rėkyva – at 5:00 PM the community will gather by burning altars, honor the fallen with a minute of silence, and at the end of the evening the concert by the ensemble “Fresco” will be heard, strengthening the sense of unity and respect.
On the evening of January 13, at 7:00 PM, residents of Šiauliai and guests of the city will be welcomed to a discussion evening “In the Light of Memory” (from the cycle “Beacons of Freedom”, dedicated to the 35th anniversary of January 13) and a photography exhibition by Rolandas Parafinavičius at the Chamber Hall of the concert institution “Polifonija” (Aušros Ave. 15).
From January 5 to 13, an installation composed of four metal X-shaped barriers will be presented to the public in the heart of the city – P. Višinskis Square. Its narrative will symbolically transport visitors to the battlefield of that era, recalling historical tension, resistance, and collective memory. The installation will reference the real barricades erected near the TV tower, parliament, and other important sites. The accompanying soundscape will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the time – to hear people’s voices and the echoes of gunfire. This is not only an artistic form, but also a living testimony of history, connecting the past with the present.
Throughout the month of January, more events dedicated to the Day of the Defenders of Freedom will take place in Šiauliai – commemorations, lectures, concerts, exhibitions, educational activities, creative workshops, and other initiatives. The full programme of events can be found on the websites of Šiauliai City Municipality (www.siauliai.lt) and Šiauliai Cultural Center (www.siauliukc.lt).
Information provided by Asta Vaitkienė, Head of the Event Organization Division of Šiauliai Cultural Center, mob. +370 671 42 901, e-mail asta.vaitkiene@siauliukc.lt.
Photos by Gintarė Daknytė, Liubov Yarmoshenko, Rolandas Parafinavičius.
