12/01/2026
When memorial bonfires light up across Lithuania in the evening of January 13th, their flames carry more than memory – they connect us to a defining moment that shaped our nation and inspired the world. 🔥
In January 1991, tens of thousands of unarmed civilians surrounded Lithuania’s Supreme Council and the television tower, defending our newly restored independence. These were ordinary, unarmed people – neighbors, friends, colleagues, family members – who came together on a cold winter night to fulfill their duty to history and the progress of freedom around the world. Though Soviet aggression claimed 14 lives and injured hundreds, their resolve and solidarity prevailed – having triumphed in the face of adversity, Lithuania not only secured its own independence, but also inspired other countries trapped behind the iron curtain to seek theirs.
This year, as we mark the 35th anniversary of these momentous events, the flames of bonfires will stand for freedom passed down from one generation to the next. Each fire is not just a remembrance, but a symbol of living history that connects us to those events and reminds us that freedom is not a given, but a value that must be protected, cherished, and entrusted to others.
On the evening of January 12th, bonfires will blaze at Independence Square, near the Vilnius TV Tower and the National Radio and Television building, accompanied by music, with our compatriots abroad joining us in spirit. On January 13th, commemorative events will include ceremonial gatherings, educational youth programmes, exhibitions, and guided tours of the Seimas January 13th Memorial. These are opportunities not just to remember history, but to get a visceral sense of how freedom shapes our present.
Join these meaningful events and experience the history that alone explains why we are free today, and inspires us to remain steadfast in protecting its value both for ourselves and for those who come after us.
Full events programme: https://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=36634&p_t=293615
