In commemoration of the 150th birthday of the famous Lithuanian writer Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis, the Seimas proclaimed 2012 the Year of Maironis. The year, which has been rich in events and stimulated a renewed interest in Maironis, is about to end. A solemn commemoration was held at the plenary sitting of the Seimas on 13 December 2012 where speeches were made by Mr Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, and Prof Dr Habilitus Viktorija Daujotytė-Pakerienė. An exhibition titled Maironis and His Era organised by Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum was launched in the Exhibition Gallery of the Seimas. The exhibition was opened by Ms Audronė Pitrėnienė, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Education, Science and Culture.
The Speaker of the Seimas observed at the commemoration that our nation was enlightened by Maironis and that thanks to his writings, public position and moral values, Lithuanian people still very much appreciate the work of the poet and artists in general. “Today, as we are commemorating the anniversary of our bard, we have an obligation and an opportunity to recall his personality and work once again. As the poet Sigitas Geda wrote, ‘Every one of us can measure our moral weight against the standard of Maironis,’” Mr Gedvilas said.
In her speech, Prof Viktorija Daujotytė-Pakerienė stressed poet’s role in Lithuania’s struggle for independence. “Maironis can rightfully be referred to as a poet of Lithuanian national revival and a bard of national liberation. Maironis urged his fellow Lithuanians to engage in creative activities, boosted morale and shaped a general attitude and hope for a better future,” Professor said.
Maironis (born Jonas Mačiulis (1862–1932)) was a poet, playwright, historian, theologian, literature researcher, professor and prelate. He was an ambassador of Lithuania’s revival, national bard and one of the most prominent figures in Lithuanian poetry.
Maironis’ poetry was famous not only during his lifetime, but also in the after-war period when our nation suffered from the Soviet occupation. Deportees would take a book by Maironis to Siberia and learn his poems by heat there. His verses were recited in the rallies of the Lithuanian Reform Movement Sąjūdis and near the barricades on 13 January 1991.
The poet was actively engaged in public and cultural life in Lithuania right until his death. He was invited to all solemn national commemorations, important sittings of the Seimas and was asked to give blessing to new buildings, such as banks, museums, churches, hospitals and ports.
In 1928, President Antanas Smetona awarded Maironis with the 2nd Class Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas with a star. Four years following Maironis’ death, on 28 June 1936, Maironis Memorial Museum was opened in Rotušės Square in Kaunas, which later evolved into the national Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum.
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