Festivity of Marine Souls

Among events in Lithuania, the Sea Festival stands out not just for its old tradition, but mainly for a particularly wide range of performance genres to satisfy the demands of all age groups. For over 40 years it has been held on the last weekend of July. During three days people are invited to almost two hundred events. About half a million of citizens from large cities, provincial towns and abroad answers the call for romantic "marine souls" to come together and celebrate. The organisers treat colourful crowds of people as the main personage of the festivity, while the attractions, events and decorations are only the ground to express their creativity.

The old town, the centre of the Festival, was adorned by original decorations: this year "Soul catchers", half humans half sea monsters with hovering traps settled on the roofs. A golden 5m high and 1,5m wide nail was "hammered" to the bridge over the Dane river. When approaching it, it reflected you. It meant – you are the one most significant here. "The pole of shame", a monumental sculpture placed on one of centre crossroads attracted mostly adults, tempting all to touch it, climb it, ring its bells, take photographs, perpetuate oneself by cutting initials on its old metal and to watch the procedure of tying up those who did not want to support the festival. Besides, J. S. Bach's music invited admirers of the classics to midnight concerts in the open air. The most outstanding opera singers and symphonic orchestra performed by the Curonian lagoon and on board the floating ships.

The aim of the organisers is not just to create an impressive fiesta, but also to propagate marine traditions, protect the Baltic and encourage young people to get interested in the sea. Since 1934, every year during the Festival, ships go to the open sea and lay wreaths to commemorate those who perished in the sea. The popularity of the Festival can be illustrated by the fact that owners of a company from South Korea render rather substantial financial support for the festival and come to it every year.

The tradition of the Sea Festival is a dear wealth and pride of Klaipëda population. A few years ago the Parliament declared the last Sunday of July to be included into the list of red-letter days.