This year, the capital celebrated the Coronation Day of the State, Mindaugas and the National Anthem in a special way - due to the pandemic that is still affecting the world, Vilnius residents and guests of the city chose a safe environment and sang the anthem on the quays of Neris from Antakalnis to Žvēryn, symbolically holding hands over the outstretched flag. The fluttering flag strips on the left and right quays of Neris also reminded us of the Baltic Way and the extraordinary creativity of Lithuanians in unusual situations. The tone of the "National Anthem" rang out from the very heart of the capital - the tower of Gediminas Castle for everyone to start singing.
"Although this year we sing the anthem at a safe distance from each other, we are as close as ever, united, longing for fellowship. Our Vilnius, our State, is what we are today - it is our responsibility, drive, creativity, courage, free spirit, talent, values. Let's nurture it. I congratulate all citizens of Vilnius on Statehood Day!" - said the mayor of Vilnius Remigius Šimašius.
The King Mindaugas Bridge, which connects the historical and modern parts of the capital, became a unique filming site this evening, from which the live broadcast of "National Anthems Around the World" took place for the whole of Lithuania and the world. The place was not chosen by chance - the King Mindaugas Bridge symbolically combines all the meanings of July 6: the coronation of King Mindaugas, the Lithuanian State Day celebration, the idea of bridges uniting differences.
From 20 p.m. while waiting for the singing of the national anthem, the people of Vilnius could also enjoy the songs of Mantas 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.
At exactly 21:00 Lithuanian time, for the 12th time around the world, the "National Anthem" sounded simultaneously - this year in Vilnius, it was sung by a crowd of thousands, dressed in national colors, holding the tricolor of Lithuania, the historical flags of "Vytis" and the city of Vilnius.
On the day of the coronation of King Mindaugas of Lithuania, residents of Vilnius and guests of the city traveled by public transport for free all day. There was no need to activate tickets in buses and trolleybuses, as well as in mobile apps m.Ticket or Trafi. Public transport passenger control did not check tickets, but observed the order.
During more than a decade, the tradition of singing the national anthem, cherished by Lithuanians all over the world, gained official status last year - on July 6. is celebrated not only as the coronation of the State or King Mindaugas, but also as the "National Anthem" day.
