The role of the Military Museum in creating festival traditions in Kaunas (1921–1930)

Šio straipsnio tikslas supažindinti su Karo muziejaus kūrimo procesu ir atskleisti jo vaidmenį kuriant įvairių švenčių tradicijas, kurios auklėjo to meto visuomenę meilės tėvynei dvasia. Šis straipsnis – pirmas bandymas pateikti visuomenei mažai žinomus faktus apie Karo muziejų. Todėl tikiuosi jos supratimo dėl gal ir pernelyg smulkmeniško įvykių ir renginių aprašymų. Tokią straipsnio formą mus skatino pasirinkti tik viena intencija – kad tie faktai neliktų tik tarpukario spaudos ar archyvų puslapiuose, o Karo muziejaus veikla būtų kuo plačiau žinoma dabartinei visuomenei ir būtų aišku, kodėl muziejaus pastatas yra Gedimino stulpų formos, o sodelio takai išdėlioti Vyčio kryžiumi.Intentions to establish the Military Museum can be first seen in 1919, although real steps were taken only on 22nd January, 1921 when an order of the Minister of National Defence was released. The aim of the establishing museum was to create an eternal monument which would memorialize Lithuania’s way to independence, fights for freedom and creation of the army for the future generations. The museum was opened on 16th February, 1921, the day of restoration of Lithuanian Independence. Thus from the first years, the museum became an active organizer of commemoration of this date. The tradition to gather and celebrate the 16th of January in the garden of the Military Museum has been preserved to the present days. Furthermore, the Military Museum has a nice tradition to commemorate such festivities as the gathering of Constitutive Assembly on the 15th of May, All Soul’s Day, Vilnius loss on the 9th of November and the Army Day. On 16th October, 1921, a monument memorializing people who gave their lives for Lithuania’s freedom (“Žuvusiems už Lietuvos laisvę”) was built in the garden of the Military Museum. The monument became an exceptional place of attraction not only for Kaunas citizens, but also for all Lithuanians. Representatives of the government, foreign visitors and society at large felt necessity to honour the soldiers who died in the fights for freedom. The monuments built in the garden of the Military Museum and celebrations of their opening attracted more and more people every year. Thus it became a nice tradition to gather at the museum during a number of festivals to celebrate or mourn. The space of the Military Museum was suitable for a variety of events. An outstanding personality, the founder and organizer of the Military Museum lieutenant-general Vladas Nagevicius had a considerable influence on creating festival traditions in the Military Museum and its garden. The traditions survived in the memory of the nation and were reborn after the restoration of Lithuanian independence