World Earth Day is celebrated annually on March 20, during the spring equinox, when the length of day and night becomes equal. This day is dedicated to drawing attention to the importance of environmental protection, encouraging responsible human interaction with nature, and reminding us all of our duty to protect the Earth. Around the world, it is marked by various initiatives – from educational activities and community actions to artistic events that invite reflection on human responsibility for nature.
On this meaningful day, the community in Rėkyva gathered for a cozy event. Young performers from the Šiauliai Cultural Center vocal studio “Rokoko” (art director R. Kauneckaitė) and soloist Ugnė Jankauskytė from the home music and creativity studio “Sidabro žiogas” (leader Rasa Kauneckaitė) filled the concert hall of the Rėkyva Cultural House with warmth, togetherness, and a spring-like mood through their songs.
The highlight of the event was the dance gathering performed outdoors by the choreography studio “Impresija” (art director I. Širvienė), symbolically extending the celebration and strengthening the connection with the awakening nature.
The festive atmosphere was further enhanced by a community-created accent located in the park next to the Rėkyva Cultural House – a tree decorated with 400 colorful birds. They were created during the creative-educational workshop “Rėkyva Birds” held on March 1, and from today all park visitors can admire this installation. The colorful birds became a symbol of community spirit, creativity, and care for the environment, subtly blending into the rhythm of the awakening nature.
Throughout the entire month of March, additional initiatives dedicated to World Earth Day also took place in Šiauliai. From March 5 to 20, an exhibition-competition of bird and bat nesting boxes was displayed in Kaštonų Alley; on March 14, an experiential gong sound journey was held at the Šiauliai Cultural Center, inviting participants to pause and immerse themselves in inner silence. On March 18, residents and visitors of Šiauliai were invited to a screening of the documentary film “The Ancient Woods” (2017) by director Mindaugas Survila, which has received significant recognition in Lithuania and abroad, revealing mesmerizing moments of nature.
This cycle of events became not only a meaningful cultural program but also a sensitive reminder of our shared responsibility for the environment. Through art, shared experiences, and community initiatives, the connection with nature was strengthened and a more conscious approach to it was encouraged.
Photo by Liubov Yarmoshenko.
Information provided by Viktorija Mališauskaitė, Head of the Rėkyva Department of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, tel. +370 632 59 279, email viktorija.malisauskaite@siauliukc.lt.
