Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania

Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania History

Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania commemorates the signing of the Act of Independence of Lithuania. Throughout World War One, Lithuania was under German occupation. Finally, in September 1917, the Vilnius Conference gathered and adopted a resolution to make Lithuania an independent state. A few months later, on 16 February 1918, the Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania in Vilnius, the nation's capital.

Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania is celebrated annually on 16 February. From 1940 to 1990, Lithuania was under Soviet occupation and unable to celebrate the holiday.

Top facts about Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania

• On 23 March 1918, Germany recognized Lithuania's independence however Lithuania still had no administrative power under German occupation.
• The Council of Lithuania adopted its first provisional constitution on 2 November of 1918.
• Upon establishment, Lithuania declared itself a democratic nation with people-elected government representatives.
• In 1940, the Soviet Union invaded Lithuania and remained in control of the country until March of 1990.
• The Council of Lithuania, as the sole representative of the Lithuanian nation...proclaims the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania, founded on democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital, and declares the termination of all state ties which formerly bound this State to other nations. - Act of Independence of 16 February 1918.

In the News and Trending for Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania

Top events and things to do

• Attend one of the many Independence concerts in the city and in Cathedral Square and the Philharmonic society in Vilnius.
• Lay flowers or wreaths on the gravesites of the Independence Day signatories. They are mostly buried in Rasos cemetery in the nation's capital.
• Spread awareness on social media using hashtags such as #IndependenceLithuania, #FreeLithuania and #Feb16Lithuania.
• Attend the special ceremony on Gediminas Ave in Vilnius where 16 fires are lit along the road to mark the path of independence.
• Read a book about the tumultuous history of the nation throughout the centuries. Some of our suggestions: Lithuania Stepping Westward, The Making and Breaking of Soviet Lithuania, The Making of a Modern Lithuania, We are Here and Lithuania The Rebel Nation.