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Traditional street festival “Hello Neighbors”

Activities of art amateur groups fostering ethnoculture Bendras žanras
Mokyklos gatvė, Bijūnai
Aukštadvario eldership
2021-09-22
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The neighbor will borrow you salt and listen to your troubles 

It’s said that a relative is a mile away while a neighbor is behind the fence, there is peace if there is a good neighbor, or don’t laugh if the neighbor's bathhouse is on fire. There are many things written about neighbors to some purpose because one goes to the neighbor to borrow salt, tell one’s troubles, and, sometimes, to the bathhouse in order to be massaged with a bath broom.

The village of Bijūnai has been organizing a unique event featuring the neighborhood topic every year since 2003. Fun, competitions and good mood is indispensable to this traditional street festival “Hello Neighbors”. Everything is prepared in advance. The village’s streets seem like they are racing with each other. Neighbors come together brainstorm an introduction: some rehearse a joint song, some prepare a mini play, some learn a story or a poem about street neighbors, some come up with a joke or share events from family life.

The festival also features a video presentation about famous locals and current residents from the village and surrounding villages. There are brain quizzes happening among streets. The participants have to answer questions about Bijūnai, Aukštadvaris or other settlements of Trakai region. During the event, there is an exhibition of photos of the most beautifully maintained homesteads, a mini-traditional fair, where locals and guests can buy original hand-made pieces of local craftsmen. The Vocal Ensemble of Bijūnai and other distinguished amateur art groups, amateur bands always entertain those who gathered during the festival.

The best housewives decorate the street table assigned to them. The tables are full of dishes made at home by inventive hosts. There is an exhibition of dishes – tasting At the table, it’s always fun to enjoy the work done, discuss community changes, communicate with neighbors, share recipes of the most delicious dishes, sing and dance together and have fun together.

The strongest community is the one that is connected not only by the minds but also by the hearts, and the most important rule of communality is to see not only oneself but also those around us. Speaking of communality in Bijūnai, it’s important to mention the Bijūnai village school – a multifunctional center that invites everyone – big and small – to a beautiful, tradition-to-be rural festival called “It’s always a lot of fun with a neighbor and a friend”.

The artists fostering the ethnoculture of the region, who share their accumulated knowledge, exhibit their works, thus entertaining the locals and guests visiting the festival are indispensable to this delightful event.

Various sports events prepared by the Bijūnai community, which bring together all the sports and active life style enthusiasts for a competitive but friendly fight also help to create a full- of-good-emotions atmosphere in the festival. Both children and adults compete to test their strength in a variety of competitions: from archery to relay races with skis on the grass.

Of course, dances and songs are indispensable to the festival, and the end of it  is highlighted by a warm coffee, tea and traditional delicious fish soup.

The main goal of this traditional, cozy festival is to bring the local people closer together for joint activities that encourage community spirit and help foster the region’s customs in the midst of warm communication. After all, a cohesive community is not created by anyone but ourselves, and in order for a real sense of community as well as connection to emerge, everyone must be determined not only to receive but also to give.

Audio guide

Traditional street festival “Hello Neighbors”
Traditional street festival “Hello Neighbors”
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