This year, the covid-19 pandemic that has gripped the world will inevitably adjust the traditions of the "National Anthem", which will be sung in unison for the 6th time all over the world on July 21, 00:12. In order to ensure safety, but to preserve the unique sense of community, which unites compatriots in various parts of the world for a few festive minutes, the organizers of the festival invite you to choose a safe environment and build bridges of unity while maintaining a distance of at least the size of the Lithuanian tricolor.
Bridges of Unity
"In this difficult time for the whole world, the safety and health of people is the main priority. We cannot yet celebrate the victory over covid-19. However, we can celebrate the unity of people discovered in the face of the pandemic, which, as we have seen, is able to overcome distances, borders, nationalities, professions and all other differences and unite for a common goal. The anthem sung by each of us will become a symbolic bridge of unity this year. Even when we are on the other side - in another country, another city, in a closed apartment or even in an isolated ward - we can feel that we are together with others - with our compatriots, relatives or just other people", - this year's idea is shared by the organizer of the initiative "National anthem around the world" Raimundas Daubaras.
Taking into account the possible risks to health, in those parts of the world where quarantine conditions allow, the organizers invite you to sing next to bridges connecting different shores - in the open air, next to rivers and other bodies of water, keeping a safe distance of 1-2 meters from each other.
Such a distance is not only considered safe due to the risk of the virus, it is also symbolic. The traditional Lithuanian flag is approximately this long. Stretched out among those gathered to sing, it can become another symbolic bridge of unity.
An opportunity to celebrate not only the state, but also humanity
The context of the global pandemic inspired another innovation of a tradition that has been cherished by Lithuanians for more than a decade. Residents of those countries are invited to join the Lithuanian communities in all countries singing the "National Anthem" and to sing the national anthem of their country immediately after the Lithuanian national anthem. In this symbolic way, the solidarity of each of us with the people fighting the covid-19 pandemic and those affected by it in every part of the world would be expressed - on July 6, we would celebrate the unity of humanity.
"This year, citizens of different countries of the world, doctors, scientists, journalists, cashiers, teachers, businessmen and everyone else joined forces and pursued a common goal. They fought and are still fighting against a common enemy. Lithuanians are an open nation and can open the borders of our national tradition. We encourage you to invite your foreign friends, neighbors and colleagues to sing by the rivers and bridges this year. Let the anthems of other states also ring out after the "National Anthem". In this way, we will celebrate not only our country, but also the community of people of the world. A unified braid of different anthems can become a symbolic anthem for humanity," said R. Daubaras.
The first tone of the chant is in a symbolic place
This year, the first tone of the global singing of the "National Anthem" will be sounded in the very heart of the capital - from the tower of Gediminas Castle. Residents and guests of the capital are invited to gather at both Neris embankments from Žvēryn to Mindaugas bridges, hold hands at a safe distance from the flag and create the safest Vilnius choir by singing the "National Anthem".
The King Mindaugas Bridge connecting the historical and modern parts of the capital on July 6. from 20 p.m. will become a unique filming site from which the live broadcast of "National Anthems Around the World" will take place on LRT for all of Lithuania and the world. Such a place for the broadcast was not chosen by chance - being in the very heart of the Lithuanian capital, it combines all the symbolic meanings of July 6: the coronation of King Mindaugas, the Lithuanian State Day holiday, the idea of a bridge uniting differences.
It is true that access to the King's Mindaugas Bridge will be restricted in accordance with the rules for the safe gathering of people.
"This year's conditions required a lot of creativity. It was necessary to find a way to ensure the necessary conditions of security, while at the same time creating and maintaining that emotion of togetherness despite the distances. The participants of the event and the viewers of the live broadcast will be able to evaluate the final result, but we are extremely happy with the chosen visual and musical solutions. It will be spectacular event, which will give everyone the festive excitement that everyone is waiting for", says the director of the event, Dalius Abaris.
During the live broadcast, the songs of Mantos Jankavičius, Ieva Juozapaitytė, Martynas Kavaliauskas, Neda Malūnavičiūtė, Justinas Lapatinskas, Bjele, Stanislavas Stavickis-Stans, Girmantė Vaitkutė, Aistė Smilgevičiūtė and Roko Radzevičius ("The Hole") and other artists will be played.
This year, on July 6, at exactly 21:00 Lithuanian time, the "National Anthem", which was played simultaneously all over the world for the 12th time, was sung in unison by Lithuanians all over the world for the first time in 2009. This time it sounded on the occasion of the millennium of Lithuania's name, when our country's sailors, having sailed around the world with the yacht "Ambersail", invited as many as 26 Lithuanian communities around the world to celebrate this anniversary together. For more than a decade, the tradition nurtured by Lithuanians all over the world has already acquired an official status today - on July 6. is celebrated not only as the coronation of the State or King Mindaugas, but also as the "National Anthem" day.
