SUPPLEMENT TO DRAUGAS NEWS SEP / OCT 2015 VOL 3 (S5)

In this issue: A Song Fest to Be Remembered Busy As a Lithuanian Bee History of Our National ‘Mack’ in McDonald’s of Springfield Knitting in Lithuanian Portraits

Sculpted Beehives

These beehives, carved by Teofilis Patiejūnas and Ipolitas Užkurnis, are found at the Lithuanian Museum of Ancient Beekeeping in Stripeikiai. Volume 3, Number S5 Sep / Oct 2015

FEATURES A Song Festival to Be Long-Remembered 6 by Rimas Černius, with photographs by Jonas Kuprys and Arvydas Zabulionis A photo album of some of the memorable performances at the 10th North American Lithuanian Song Festival, including the lyrics, with an English translation, to the “” cantata. A Day in the Life of a Lithuanian Beekeper 13 by Vereta Rupeikaitė “I eat my peas with honey. I’ve done it all my life. It makes the peas taste funny, but it keeps them on the knife!” (Ogden Nash) page 6 History of Lithuania’s 16 by Zigmas Tamakauskas Written in 1898 by Vincas Kudirka, the “Tautiška Giesmė” became the official national anthem of Lithuania in 1919, a year after Lithua- nia declared its . Who Put the ‘Mack’ in McDonald’s of Springfield? 20 by Sandra Baksys John Makarauskas changed his surname to Mack a full 16 years be- fore he went into fast food. He had no way of knowing he would one day be the man responsible for bringing “Mack-fries,” “Mack-cheese- burgers” and “Big Macks” to Springfield. Knitting in Lithuania 24 page 13 by Donna Druchunas What makes knitting Lithuanian? Is it the special techniques that are used? A unique way to hold the yarn and needles? Certain combina- tions of colors? History of Lithuania (Book Review) 28 by Donatas Januta This 327 page book, available online only, is the work of four Lithuan- ian historians that chronicles the country’s history from the first written mention of Lithuania’s name in 1009 to membership in the in 2004. Recipes (Baking with Honey) 29

Cover Credits: FRONT and BACK COVERS: 10th Song Festival. Photo by Jonas Kuprys. INSIDE FRONT COVER: Bee Hives at Lithuanian Museum of Ancient Bee- page 24 keeping: Photo by Wosyl, Wikimedia Commons. INSIDE BACK COVER: Bill Walton and Fr. Lukas Laniauskas, S.J. Photo by Jonas Kuprys. THIS PAGE: Beekeeper. Photo by Kzenon. Shutterstock.

September/ October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 1 L A B A S You have arisen, our homeland, Lietuva! PUBLISHER hose of us who had the opportunity to attend or, even better, to Lithuanian Catholic Press Society participate in the 10th North American Song Festival in Chicago Chicago, IL Tare still recovering from the unique experience. The four-hour performance was breathtaking, inspiring, and draining (in a good way). ACTING EDITOR A 90-min video excerpt is available on the Web, thanks to Lithuanian Jonas Daugirdas Radio and Television, and they promise that a telecast of the entire four-hour performance will be archived by the time that this issue of COPY EDITOR Lithuanian Heritage has reached our readers. In this issue we post some Rita Bureika Kaufmann spectacular photos from the Song Festival, and one can view many more on the Draugas News facebook page. We also are publishing the moving Wondering about your Estate Plan? lyrics, along with an English translation, to one of the centerpiece com - positions performed at the Festival, the “Singing Revolution” cantata, Remember the Draugas Foundation and assure the future of our Lithuanian-Ameri - written by Rugilė Kazlauskaitė. can Press. Since 1992, the Draugas Foun - The Monday after the Song Festival, July 6th, is celebrated as State - dation has served to sustain the Lithuan - hood Day in Lithuania, being the anniversary of the coronation of King ian language Draugas , and now comes to in 1253. It has become a tradition for living the aid of Draugas News and Lithuanian abroad, no matter where they might be living, to come together on this Heritage as well. Over the years, it has supported capital improvements and in - day and sing the national anthem. In downtown Chicago, several hundred vested in printing hardware and comput - Lithuanians gathered in a flash mob at Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) next ers. When times were especially rough, it to Lake Michigan, creating a happening that was given television coverage helped pay operating expenses. The Drau - by Fox News. So, it’s perhaps appropriate that we describe in this issue gas Foundation is our lifeline and guaran - how the Lithuanian national anthem came to be written by Vincas tor of the future of Draugas’s unique set of Kudirka, and how its use was revived after the restoration of independ - publications. ence in 1990. In addition to the Lithuanian words and the English For the Draugas Foundation to fulfill its translation posted on the Lithuanian government Web site, we’re pro - mission, it needs your support and in - viding a slightly modified, singable English version that perhaps still volvement. A few legacy gifts of moderate needs to be fine-tuned. size will ensure the health of Draugas News , Draugas , and Lithuanian Heritage Recently two Lithuanian Americans were successful in obtaining for years to come. crowdfunding support to help prepare and launch their books. Sandra Baksys is a writer-historian whose book chronicles the experiences of All donations are tax deductible. The Lithuanians in Springfield, Illinois. Donna Druchunas’s book is about Draugas Foundation (http://www.draugo - fondas.org) is a charitable, 501(c)(3) or - the continuing traditions of Lithuanian knitting. Both authors kindly ganization. You can write foundation into agreed to write articles about their area of expertise for this issue of your will by specifying: “Draugas Founda - Lithuanian Heritage . When I was in Lithuania last year, one of Ona’s rel - tion,” EIN number: 36-3916303. For ques - atives, Prof. Ramutis Rindzevičius, who happens to be a well-respected tions, please call: Marija Remienė, Presi - beekeeper, treated me to some very unique and delicious honey from dent, Draugas Foundation, his hives. We’re very happy to present here an article about beekeeping tel. 773-585-9500. in Lithuania, a blend of the latest science and old traditions.

Jonas Daugirdas, Acting Editor

Lithuanian Heritage is published by the Lithuanian Catholic Press Society (DRAUGAS), 4545 W. 63rd Street, Chicago, IL 60629-5532. Lithuanian Heritage is available only as a bi - monthly (six times per year) supplement to Draugas News (http://www.draugasnews.org). Please consult our website or the back page of this magazine for subscription information. Copyright 2015 by the Lithuanian Catholic Press Society.

2 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 and a group of young people would crisscross the areas where Lithuanians were sent noting names and locations. In their travels they also came across Japanese graves and similar Japanese searchers. It seems that Japan was the only other country looking for their dead in Siberia, so soon cooper - Cheesemaking (some tips) very slow. Like bread, overmixing ru - ation has developed between the two I read Ona Daugirdas’ article first ins it. And finally, 7) Yes, never use groups. The Japanese were very grate - thing when I received my Lithuanian lemon juice or citric acid. If you ful to Mr. Petrokas for his help and Heritage magazine today. Being a do, you might as well boil the milk presented him with a video recorder, a hobby cheesemaker myself, I found and make ricotta cheese. The “sour - video player and a television set, things it interesting. But I also have a few ing” comes from the cultures that exist helpful hints. You see, my wife is from in the buttermilk and the sour taste that were beyond his means to buy in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and comes from the production of lactic those days in Lithuania. With it he was we both enjoy the Finnish fresh acid as the cultures ferment the milk. then able to photograph graves and cheese called juustoa (squeaky cheese). DAN BUTKUS videotape descendants of deportees She gets the Finnish American Re - Madison, WI still living in . Unfortunately Mr. porter and I get your magazine. The Editor’s response: Petrokas died and then conditions in juustoa recipes for are easy and simple, Dear Dan: Russia changed, so there are no or - and as old as the hills, yet I had trouble Many thanks for the tip about using ho - ganized searches any more. making it. Over and over again, the mogenized milk. Much of the contro - TADAS STOMMA curds came out too grainy and fine. versy over “raw milk” in the United Tega Cay, SC And it never properly “squeaked” States has to do with the possibility when I bit into it after the broiling (quite low, as I understand it) that un - Editor’s response: process. I started reading up on how pasteurized milk might contain danger - Dear Tadai: to make cheese and learned to make ous bacteria. However, pasteurization Many thanks for this interesting infor - brie, blue, Port Salut, cheddar, and has nothing to do with homogenization, mation. I knew about the searches in more. This helped me be able to fi - and one can buy pasteurized, but non - Siberia related to deported Lithuanians, juustoa nally make properly. homogenized milk. I but had no idea that similar searches 1) Do not use homogenized found some locally at were being carried out by the Japanese. milk. The homogenizing process our grocery store in the I would like to comment on your last yields a poorly developed curd and it Chicago area under the sentence, that organized searches and can become fine grained and falls apart Organic Valley label: expeditions to Siberia have ceased. too easily. Organic creamline milk is An example of There are annual expeditions to Siberia the best... the kind of milk that sepa - pasteurized, nonho - being organized from Lithuania by the rates the cream on top. mogenized whole milk. „Misija Sibiras“ group (www.misijasi - 2) Use whole milk. Whole milk is a biras.lt). This organization began its bit more forgiving when making work in 2005, and has now organized cheese. After you master it, you can Japanese graves in Siberia Reading about Chiune Sugihara no fewer than 12 trips for young Lithua - move to 2%, but never skim milk. nians to visit Siberia, to meet with 3) You can cheat the process if your made me think of another Japanese- Lithuanian collaboration, that of An - Lithuanians and persons of Lithuanian milk is ice-cold by warming the milk descent still living there, and to help on the stove very gently to room tanas Petrokas, who in 1989 organized preserve and care for gravesites of temperature, and no warmer. Use the Committee “Ad Patria” for the re - Lithuanians who perished there. a thermometer and stir to avoid over - moval of remains and social aid to heating the bottom. 4) Do not skip Lithuanians deported to the Soviet the buttermilk. It contains the cul - Union. Mr. Petrokas himself was exiled We welcome letters and comments tures needed to start the process to the Irkutsk region of Siberia as a from our readers. Please address cor - respondence to: Lithuanian Heritage, (hence the names “cultured butter - child. The Committee organized ex - milk” and “cultured sour cream”). 5) c/o Draugas News, 4545 W 63rd St., Do not be tempted to check the peditions looking for Lithuanians and Chicago, IL 60629; Fax: 773-585-8284. email: [email protected] progress of gelling before Ona’s rec - their remains and assisted relatives in returning them to Lithuania from var - Include your full name, address, and ommendation of 2 days. 6) When telephone number or email address. cutting the curds and separating the ious districts of Siberia and from near Letters may be edited for space or clarity. whey, be very very gentle and very the Arctic Circle. Every summer he

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 3 Vaidas Šukys and the Mama Papa Lithuan- ian Restaurant and Tea House. (demenis- photography.com) squares. One wall is made of hori- zontal one-cut wooden boards, the other wall is made of bricks; towards the kitchen is a mural with a detail of ’ Old Town and on the other side is a wooden bar decorated Rolandas Kriščiūnas (usa.mfa.lt) Vilma Mazaite (twitter.com/vmazaite) with an old wheel from a horse car- As of this Fall, the Republic of named one of “America’s 100 Best riage.” The restaurant has become Lithuania has a new ambassador to Wine Restaurants” by Wine Enthusi- a frequent meeting place for San the . His Excellency ast magazine. Vilma was recently Francisco area Lithuanians. Rolandas Kriščiūnas is from the written up by the New York Times On June 19th, Žalys, Lithua- city of Panevėžys. He studied Busi- blog in July 8 of this year, where she nia’s ambassador to Canada, be- ness Informatics at Vytautas Magnus was quoted as remarking, “Once you stowed the Knight’s Cross of Ged- University in , then com- have something really good that you iminas on Gabija Juozapavičiūtė pleted European Union Studies at hadn’t before, you remember every- Petrauskienė for her services to the Hague. He completed Master‘s thing that happened around it: with Lithuania. What did Gabija do to de- Studies in Economic Sciences at whom you drank it, when you drank serve this august honor? She was the Ohio University and Management it. I don’t think any other beverage Chair of the Lithuanian Canadian Studies at the Swedish Institute in does that. A cocktail will never do Community in 1991-92. At that Stockholm. His work experience that.” At the restaurant, Vilma hosts time, along with Vytautas Bireta, was mostly in Economic Analysis courses, for women only, where they she organized a funding drive to and Finance. Here’s hoping he can can sample new varieties and flavors. raise a million dollars to help the generate a lot of new overseas in- This year, she was named one of newly resurgent Lithuanian vestment in Lithuania and help Food & Wine magazine’s “Somme- republic. The money was used for maintain critical U.S. support during liers of the Year.” various projects including buying these uncertain political times. Vaidas Šukys opened his Lithua- and furnishing a building in Vilma Mazaite is a sommelier. For nia-themed restaurant in the San Brussels to house Lithuania’s repre- you beer drinkers who don’t know Francisco area, in Alameda, CA, in what a sommelier is, he or she is an October of 2013. He was the sub- employee of a restaurant with ex- ject of a feature article in Draugas tensive knowledge of wine and food News in January of 2014. Cabbage pairings, and who usually orders and rolls, cold beet soup, and cepelinai maintains stocks of wines at high- are among the signature dishes end restaurants. Vilma currently served. Vaidas told Draugas News, works at laV, a French-themed “The idea was that the design and restaurant in Austin, Texas, “inspired decor would take you straight to Old by Provence,” which has been Vilnius, into one of the old town Gabija Juozapavičiūtė Petrauskienė

4 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September/ October 2015 sentatives and financing trips to Affairs at Occidental College. She ists were Henrikas Žustautas and North America by Vytautas Lands - recently (9/17/2014) coauthored an Andrius Šidlauskas. bergis, Chair of the reactivated article in Forbes magazine on “Five Lithuanian (parliament) and Russian Myths that have Helped , Parliament Putin Win in .” Chair at the time. Funds were spent to provide equipment to ensure the Marius Markevicius ,who was re - continuing ability of Lithuania to sponsible for bringing “The Other communicate with the outside world Dream Team” to the big screen, is in the event of a feared blockade, as now working on a film based on the well as to support the minting of litas best selling novel by Ruta Sepetys, coins enabling a prompt changeover “Between Shades of Grey”. Pub - to the new national currency. In 1991 lished in more than 40 countries and Gabija was appointed as a consultant 26 languages, “Between Shades of to Lithuania’s prime minister, and, to - Gray” tells the story of a 15-year- gether with the Canada International old aspiring artist who is deported Development Agency, she prepared Baku European Games, June 2015. a plan designed to strengthen the ad - ministrative capabilities of the new government. On a personal note, I (Jonas Daugirdas) still remember Gabija in her role of organizing the 3rd and 4th World Youth Association Congresses in South America (1975- 76) and in (1979), both of which I attended.

Dr. Agnia Grigas is an energy and Marius Markevicius (indiewire.com) political risk expert, specializing in Russia, Eastern Europe and the to Siberia during Stalin's cleansing Henrikas Žustautas. Gold medal: Canoe post-Soviet space. She is the author of the Baltic region during WWII. Sprint. (FB/zustautas1) of “The Politics of Energy and As detailed by the Hollywood Re - Memory between the porter , Markevicius said, “It’s amaz - and Russia” (Ashgate 2013) and a ing that the atrocities of Stalin and frequent media contributor (CNN, the Siberian mass deportations are CCTV, Forbes, Bloomberg, Reuters, still a relatively unknown and untold BBC, The New York Times, The Huff - part of history. We hope to change ington Post). Ms. Grigas is a fellow that with this film. I'm also thrilled at the McKinnon Center for Global to once again collaborate with Ben York Jones on this adaptation. Ben Andrius Šidlauskas. Gold medal: 50 m. has an incredible ability to capture breastroke. raw emotion and young love in his writing, and those two elements will be the key drivers in our film.”

The Baku European Games took place recently (June 2015) in Baku, Azerbaijan, and included 6,000 ath - letes from 50 countries, competing in 20 sports. Lithuanians took home no less than 7 medals: 2 golds, 1 sil - ver, and 4 bronze. The gold medal - Andrius Šidlauskas. ( photo by Vytautas Agnia Grigas, PhD Dranginis / LTOK )

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 5 A Song Festival to Be Long-Remembered by Rimas Černius with photos by Jonas Kuprys and Arvydas Zabulionis

ithuanian song festivals in North America are and audience members alike for a long time. Thanks to special and rare events. The first one took place photographers Jonas Kuprys and Arvydas Zabulionis, L in Chicago’s Coliseum in 1956. This year the here are some memorable moments from a very special 10th Lithuanian Song Festival took place at the UIC song festival. You can view a 90-minute extract filmed Pavilion in Chicago on July 5th. It was a truly festive by Lithuanian Radio and Television at this link: event. Memories of the festival will linger with singers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8eT1XCTzz0

Young Lithuanians dressed in traditional national costumes get ready to present the flags. (Photo by J. Kuprys)

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September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 9 DAINUOJANTI REVOLIUCIJA SINGING REVOLUTION “Lietuva, Tu Prisikėlei su Daina!” “Lietuva, You Have Arisen with a Song!” Kęstučio Daugirdo muzika Music: Kęstutis Daugirdas Lyrics: Rugilė Kazlauskaitė; Rugilės Kazlauskaitės žodžiai Translation: Jonas Daugirdas I. Tiek metų kentėta 1987 m. rugpjūčio 23 d. I. Such long years of torment August 23, 1987 Tiek metų kentėta galvą nulenkus, Such long years of torment, heads bowed in suffering, Tiek metų tamsoj gyveno tauta. In darkness and fear the nation survived, Baimė duris buvo užtrenkus, Doors locked up tightly, everyone frightened, Bet tyliai bunda laisvės dvasia. Now softly roused by liberty’s cry. Ligi gelmių suvirpa mūs širdys, Deep in our hearts comes a trembling, Ten dar kraujoja tėvynės žaizda, tėvynės žaizda, tėvynės There where still bleed the motherland’s wounds, žaizda. The motherland’s wounds, the motherland’s wounds. Apie tėvų kančią ir mirtį lai nesudrebės ant lūpų tiesa. The death and demise of our mothers and fathers, Vėjai skraidina pirmą dainą, A truth frozen cold and stopped on our lips. Marija, tu švieti aukštai iš dangaus. But on the wind aloft a song is turning, Per giesmę sutraukytos melo grandinės, Marija, your radiance streams from Heaven above. Marija, apgink mus nuo priešo baisaus, nuo priešo This hymn rends asunder the chains forged from false - baisaus. hoods, Tiek metų kentėta, tiek metų kentėta. Marija, protect against this terrible foe, this terrible foe. II. Į rytojų keliame akis 1988 m. rugpjūčio 23 d. Such long years of torment, such long years of torment. Šiandien iš šios išdegintos žemės naujai užaugo ąžuolai, II. To the morrow in hope we lift our gaze Tylinčioj, priespaudos menėj, tylinčioj, vėlei suskambo August 23, 1988 mūsų balsai. In earth scarred by fire and ruination, oak trees growing Į rytojų keliame akis, tikime baigias, baigias jau naktis, once again. Ir tėvynę vėlei atradau savo širdy. Gagged and stilled, in oppression once silenced, gagged Tų geležinių sienų galybę drąsi daina galėtų nuverst. and stilled, Skaudų istorijos lapą laikas artėja amžiams užverst. Voices ring no longer constrained. Į rytojų keliame akis, tikime baigias, tikime baigias jau To the morrow, in hope we lift our gaze, naktis, Waiting for morning, to sweep the night away, Ir tėvynę vėlei atradau savo širdyj. And our homeland, we feel her once again, a joy in our Į rytojų keliame akis, tikime baigias, baigias jau naktis, heart. Ir tėvynę vėlei atradau savo širdyj. A fence of steel, a wall made of iron, are overturned by Ligi gelmių suvirpa mūs širdys, tariame vardą Lietuvos. valiant song. Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva. The time has come to bury forever, this page of history Laikas artėja, laikas artėja, neišsiginsim savo dalios. unduly prolonged. Visas pasaulis tegirdi: Kelias į laisvę –tautos valia! To the morrow, in hope we lift our gaze, III. Baltijos kelias 1989 m. rugpjūčio 23 d. Waiting for morning, to sweep the night away, Baltijos kelias, kelias į laisvę. And our homeland, we feel her once again, a joy in our Baltijos kelias, kelias į laisvę. heart. Bunda jau Baltija, Deep in our hearts comes a trembling Baltijos kelias, kelias į laisvę. As we give voice to our fatherland’s name, Bunda jau Baltija, rankoje ranka. Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva. Bunda jau Baltija, rankoje ranka. The moment is near, the time fast approaching, Broli, sese, stovim už laisvę. For each one of us to take up our role. Stovim už laisvę, stovim už laisvę, laisvę, laisvę, All the world’s countries must know this: Baltijos kelias, kelias į laisvę. Pathway to freedom−our solemn goal! IV. Tu prisikėlei 1990 m. kovo 11 d. III. on a pathway to freedom Tu prisikėlei, Tėvyne Lietuva, pražydusi ieva. August 23, 1989 Pakirsta, sužeista, kaip pavasaris balta. Balts on a pathway, pathway to freedom, Tave išvydau, tu liejiesi upe, galinga ir šventa, Balts on a pathway, pathway to freedom. Atkovota, sulaukta, trispalvė vėliava! Wake from sleep, o Baltija. Pragydo tauta didybės šviesoje, šviesoje. Balts on a pathway, pathway to freedom, Aš giedu tavyje, atgimus Lietuva, Lietuva. Baltija, arm in arm, hand in hand, arm in arm.

10 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 The cantata commemorated the . On (August 23, 1989) almost 2.5 million people joined hands to form a human chain that stretched from Lithuania through and - a living sym- bol of Baltic solidarity in their struggle for freedom. As the Festival chorus sang, dancers and stage actors joined hands to form their own Baltic Way in the UIC pavilion. (Photo by J. Kuprys) Wakening, o Baltija, hand in hand, arm in arm. Brother, sister, stand up for freedom. Stand up for freedom, freedom, freedom. Balts on a pathway, pathway to freedom. IV. You have arisen, our homeland Lietuva March 11, 1990 You have arisen, our homeland, Lietuva, a tree in glori- ous bloom. Axed and tarred, bent and scarred, like springtime, white anew. I felt you streaming, a river’s surging flow, so sacred, proud and strong. And our flag, battled for, long awaited ours once more. Erupting in song, in greatness and in light. I sing as part of you, reborn, o Lietuva, Lietuva. The cantata honored the 14 Lithuanians killed on January 13, V. Let’s believe in each other January 13, 1991 1991, when Russian soldiers and tanks tried to suppress Lithuanian Gloom and black clouds, roll over the sky and terror independence. (Photo by J. Kuprys) floods into the streets. V. Tikėkime vienas kitu 1991 m. sausio 13 d. Don’t tell me this thundering convoy of tanks, Tamsus debesis apgaubė dangų, baimė užtvindė gatves. Will be taking my country from me! Nejaugi su dundančia armija tankų tėvynę atims iš Unarmed in the snow in the dark stormy night, manęs? Comes the nation defending the square. Beginklė ant sniego prieš vėtras nakties į aikštes išeina With brave songs and hymns against whirling black tauta. shells, and with prayers against turrets of tanks. Prieš aidinčius šūvius tik žodžiai giesmės, prieš tankų The night air is rended with screeches of death, pabūklus malda. The snow painted scarlet with blood. Praplėšia naktį mirtis klykdama, sniegą nudažo krauju. Brothers, stand up, as one nation arise; Broliai stovėkit kaip stovi tauta, tikėkime vienas kitu, Believe in each other again, believe we can! tikėkime! Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva... Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva... Believe, O brother; believe, O sister; Tikėkime, broli, tikėkime, sese, tikėkime, tikėkime vienas Believe in each other again, kitu. Believe we can, believe we can... Lietuva, Lietuva, tu prisikėlei, tu prisikėlei. Lietuva, Lietuva, you have arisen, you have arisen. Te stiprybę semia tavo sūnūs iš praeities, iš praeities. From your past, your sons draw strength. Tėvyne Lietuva, tėvyne Lietuva, tu prisikėlei, galinga Our homeland, Lietuva, our nation, Lietuva, šventa! You have arisen, sacred and proud! Tu prisikėlei, tu prisikėlei, tu prisikėlei su daina. Su daina! You have arisen, you have arisen, with a song. With a song!

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12 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 A Day in the Life of a Lithuanian Beekeeper by Vereta Rupeikaitė

he humble bee, with its com - plex way of life and its sim - Tple relationship with man, has held fascination for millenia. This is especially true for anyone who has a drop of Lithuanian blood in his veins, because bees, beekeep - ing and honey are inseparable parts of our culture and cuisine since the times of our forefathers. Ancient Lithuanian folklore has preserved many riddles and proverbs about bees such as: “a lady sits in the dark house, she weaves without a loom or heddles,” “a family of thousands eats less than one man,” “hard work yields sweet fruit,” “he who loves bees is loved by God.” The evocative Lithuanian word biči - Beekeeper Jonas Balžekas inspecting his hives. ulis is derived from the word bitė who knows, perhaps bees, who have Forestry Studies, "modern" honey - (bee). It connotes not simply a complex communication and orga - bees spread into Europe fairly re - friend, but someone with whom you nizational systems, love their masters cently —after the last ice age, about have a special camaraderie and rela - as well? The author has heard of a 10,000 years ago. How they arrived tionship. Beekeepers had very special case where the beekeeper died, and from those warm far-off lands to relationships with one another. If the bees left the hive and swarmed reach and prosper in northern Eu - bees left your hive and swarmed onto his grave, as if accompanying rope has many explanations. Suffice onto your neighbor’s property, you him on his final journey. it to say, that it is a testament to the had the option of asking for their little bee’s tenacity and adaptibility return. A beekeeper who graciously A Long Journey to Lithuania over millions of years. allowed his bees to depart, forged The honeybee is a highly sophis - Bees in Lithuania are first men - an eternal comradeship or bičiulystė ticated insect that evolved from a tioned in 13th century chronicles. with his neighbor. Even historical carnivorous wasp over millions of As Jonas Balžekas recounts, the an - animosities were known to dissolve years. It is likely that the proto-bee cient territory of Lithuania was cov - with these “gifts” of bees. The originated in the Far East, southern ered with lush forests and a great proverbial generosity of bees and Asia, and Africa with the earliest diversity of plants. Hives as we know their honey becomes replicated in recorded bee found in Myanmar, en - them were not yet being used as the generous and kind behavior of cased in amber and dated to be 100 housing for bees. Cavity-nesting bees neighbors. million years old. According to Jonas would use tree hollows to live in, Perhaps bičiulystė should de - Balžekas, son of a famous beekeeper build their honeycombs and collect scribe the attachment between man and head of the Apiculture section honey. Beekeepers marked drevės and bee as well. Beekeepers are pas - of the Agricultural Institute of the (tree hollows) and according to ac - sionate —they love their bees. And Lithuanian Center for Agrarian and cepted practices of the day, har -

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 13 from Italy, , Ukraine, the Cau - The Miracle of Modern casus countries, Carpathian moun - Science tain regions and other locations. Bee - Beekeeper Jonas Balžekas re - keepers quickly noticed that these lates: “For 13 years I have been sit - bees were less aggressive and simpler ting at a microscope, artificially to work with, but this convenience breeding bees in a laboratory. If came at a cost to natural selection breeding occurs naturally outdoors, and genetic diversity. artificially achieved desirable bee characteristics can be easily lost. Introduction to Apiculture When a bee couples with unknown The bee family consists of one drones, her purity vanishes. I want motinėlė queen bee, the (literally: lit - to provide beekeepers with accli - tle mother), approximately 1,000 mated, productive queen bees.” tranai male (drones) and 80,000 fe - Jonas Balžekas learned the deli - darbininkės male (worker) bees. cate art of bee insemination in the These are the numbers at summer’s United States. “About 25 years ago peak, although by wintertime only A family of cavity-nesting bees. (www.real - I visited a genetics laboratory in beekeeping.com) 15,000 - 20,000 worker bees are left. Louisiana and studied with Profes - vested honey from the hives. Un - The drones’ fate is even sadder. Bee - sor John Harbo. My uncle, Monsi - fortunately, this opportunistic keeper Jonas Balžekas describes the gnor Simonas Morkūnas, provided method of beekeeping destroyed the harsh reality of their lives: “The funds to buy equipment for my work bees. Once the honey had been har - drones are only needed to fertilize in Lithuania. In a few years I was vested, the bees were left with inad - the queen, then they are expelled successfully breeding bees and was equate food and shelter for the on - from the hive and die of starvation.” soon invited to work in Switzer - coming winter and did not survive. The queen stays in the hive ex - land,” the beekeeper recalls. Since cept for one or two times during the returning from Switzerland in 2002, Loss of the Forest Bees season when she leaves to become he has dedicated himself to this spe - For many hundreds of years, fertilized by multiple drones. The cial science. Lithuanian bees were forest bees. As sperm is stored and continually used Likely the only bee-breeder in the ancient forests were cut down to fertilize up to 2,000 eggs a day. Lithuania, he raises an average of over the centuries, new plant cul - These eggs hatch into worker bees 1,300 queen bees during a single sea - tures appeared, drastically changing (drones develop from unfertilized son! “A juvenile bee can mature into the natural environment. With eggs). Beekeeper Balžekas explains: either a worker bee or a queen bee. changing conditions, the local “The queen is like an egg-laying fac - The worker bee larva is fed royal Lithuanian bee, also known as the tory. Of course, if the bees become jelly for three days, but the queen is Dark European honeybee, didn't too numerous, there is not enough fed this very concentrated, potent adapt well and became unproduc - room in the hive and the queen de - food for the entire growth period. tive. Lithuanian beekeepers started cides to leave. The majority of the This determines its evolution into a to prefer bees imported from other bees swarm away with her. This oc - queen and is the reason for its dis - countries. Bees were brought in currence is very unprofitable for the tinctive size,” explains the specialist. beekeeper because it leaves the hive with an unfertilized queen and very Competing with Chinese few bees. That year, honey produc - Honey tion is practically zero.” To the apiarists delight, beekeep - Even though a queen bee can ing is experiencing a renaissance in live for up to five years, the current Lithuania. Interest in this ancient recommendation is to replace her skill is spreading and beehives are every two years. Jonas Balžekas has seen gracing many homesteads. In - a very simple prescription: “You terestingly, despite most Lithuanians’ catch the queen and, in her place, fierce preference for all things home - you put in a newly bred one." But grown, a significant amount of Working in his home laboratory, Jonas where to get a new queen, you might honey is being imported. To no Balžekas has bred thousands of bees. ask?

14 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 life experiences and take over his curled up cannot sting. That is why work. It seems there is an unspoken blowing smoke at a beehive is a way tradition among beekeepers that api - to protect yourself against bee culture skills and knowledge are not stings. Similarly, the bees inside a so much taught as shared, and new swarm are not aggressive, because converts are often made by simple in preparation for relocation they exposure to the master’s enthusiasm. have also loaded up with honey and Ramutis Rindzevičius is such an cannot curl up,” the beekeeper says apostle. By profession Ramutis is a with a big smile. scientist and associate professor at When Ramutis began beekeep - Kaunas Technological University ing independently, he got his first and a close friend of Jonas Balžekas. three bee families from his father. Both of their fathers were bičiuliai He would go into the forests and and beekeepers, and now he himself heaths with Jonas Balžekas, Sr. is a dedicated beekeeper. where the hives were temporarily moved to take advantage of seasonal The smoker is being prepared by Ramutis A Lifelong Passion for use on a hive. blooming. “You get up in the morn - Ramutis Rindzevičius began ing, decide to get some honey, open one’s surprise, much of it comes beekeeping in 1971, when he com - the hive, slice off a chunk of hon - from China. Sometimes cheap pleted his university studies. But the eycomb from the very middle and trumps patriotism... work was familiar to him from child - eat it. The bees ‘sew up’ that hole Local honey production is very hood. He would help his father with very quickly,” the beekeeper shares successful and reaches about 2,000 the hives. “I would carry the honey - a sweet memory. tons per season. So while some comb frames, collect the honey. The Ramutis regrets that new bee - Lithuanians choose inexpensive for - bees are docile now: they don’t sting keepers face a stiff learning curve. eign honey for themselves, Lithuania like the old species used to,” Rindze - Currently, there is no specialty train - still exports about 500 tons of deli - vičius smiles, recalling his childhood ing program for beekeepers in cious (and more expensive) honey to near Kėdainiai. He then explains that Lithuania. “If someone decides to European countries and to America. smoke blown near the beehive become a beekeeper, he has to learn serves to minimize the chance of Passing the Bee-keeping on his own by consulting other ex - stings from even peaceable strains Torch perienced beekeepers, attending var - of bees. Smoke causes the bees to ious workshops, reading books.” But Jonas Balžekas learned the art feel danger, so they hurry and suck modern-day beekeepers have one of beekeeping from his father, a up as much honey as they can. “It is important advantage that the apiarist doctor of biomedicine, and hopes hard for a bee to curl up on a full of the past did not. It used to be a that his own son Jonas will share his stomach, and bees that are not minor tragedy if the queen motinėlė died or was lost when the hive swarmed. Now Ramutis and other enthusiasts can rely on the expertise of Jonas Balžekas to provide them with replacement ‘pure-bred’ queen bees. Beekeeping is one of the oldest crafts in Lithuania. It has roots in ancient traditions, it binds with the deep ties of bičiulystė , and it features the most unassuming of God’s crea - tures that generously reward us with a bit of sweet paradise.

Ramutis Rindzevičius may have spent his life in academia, but it’s obvious where his Photos by Vereta Rupeikaitė except as heart lies. marked.

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 15 The History of Lithuania’s National Anthem Zigmas Tamakauskas

he word himnas , which is gimantas , suggested that the psalm stage. From then on, as it was being what Lithuanians call their na - of David – “Dievas Galybių su Mu - sung, people would stand up out of Ttional anthem, comes from mis!” (“The God of hosts is with respect for their homeland. When the Greek word hymnos , a holy and us!”) – be turned into a national an - we were students at the University, solemn song used to worship the them. The hymn “Marija, Marija” we encouraged people to sing it dur - gods in ancient times. Here we will was also very popular with the peo - ing social gatherings. This song left focus on Lithuania’s current anthem, ple. The composer Česlovas Sas - a particularly strong impression on while mentioning songs that at one nauskas wrote the music, and the everyone in the autumn of 1956, in time or another were possible candi - words were by Maironis. In our time the context of the Hungarian revo - dates for national anthem status. His Holiness Pope John Paul II es - lution. During an evening event we More than a century ago, the pecially liked this hymn. had organized, after a speaker had need for a Lithuanian national an - Another poem that was a possi - declaimed excerpts from the poem them was satisfied by the first line ble candidate for Lithuania’s national “Jaunoji Lietuva” (“Young Lithua - of Adam Mickewicz’s epic poem anthem was “Kur Bėga Šešupė” nia”), which contained the words : “Lithuania, my home - (“Where Flows the Šešupė”) by “Jau slavai sukilo…” (“Now the land, you are dearer to me than Maironis. Česlovas Sasnauskas and have revolted…”), we joined health…” During the years when Aleksandras Kačanauskas wrote the hands and warmly and supportively the Lithuanian press was banned music for this poem. It contained sang “Lietuva brangi.” [1864 – 1904], a song by Antanas the expressive and patriotic A poem by Jurgis Sauerveinas Baranauskas – “Nu Lietuva, nu Dau - line, “Pirmyn į kovą už tėvynę, už entitled, “Lietuvininkai Mes Esam guva” – was very popular. This song brangią žemę Lietuvos!” (“Forward Gimę” (“Lithuanians We Were sounded like a national anthem. It into battle for the homeland, for the Born”), became a national hymn as encouraged love of the homeland dear land of Lithuania!”) This song well. It was published in 1879 in a and burned with hatred for the czar even had a subtitle that said, “Lithua - Klaipėda newspaper called Lietu - and for russification with the words, nia’s National Anthem.” The song viškas Ceitungas . With some editorial “Anei rašto, anei druko mums turėt ne - called “Jaunimo Giesmė” (“The Song changes, this poem (set to music by duoda…” (“They won’t let us have of Youth”) composed by Juozas anything written, nor anything Naujalis was also very popular. It printed…”) Young people sang this had the line, “Užtrauksim naują song with great enthusiasm, as the giesmę, broliai, kurią jaunimas writer Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas tesupras!” (“Brothers, let’s sing a new noted. The czarist government con - song, that only the young will un - sidered this song to be hostile to the derstand!”). state and tried to ban it. Then an The song “Lietuva Brangi” appeal was made to the Lithuanian (“Dear Lithuania”), with music by poet Maironis to write new words Juozas Naujalis, was especially pop - to the same melody, so that the gov - ular during the years of Soviet oc - ernment censors would not find it cupation. It became a substitute for objectionable. That is how the pop - the national anthem of Lithuania. ular poem by Maironis called “Eina The song had been banned, but dur - Garsas” (“A Call to Arms is Sound - ing the so-called “thaw” of the ing”) came into being. Khrushchev era, members of the Vincas Pietaris, the author of University of Vilnius chorus sang it the well-known historical novel Al - legally for the first time on a concert Sheet music featuring the national anthem (Lietuvos Hymnas).

16 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 Stasys Šimkus) is now called the na - cially became Lithuania’s national tional anthem of Lithuania Minor. anthem. It also became a symbol of Vincas Kudirka in describing his an independent Lithuania, and be - song, “Tautiška Giesmė” (“National cause of its popularity, no formal hymn”), said prophetically that he codification was necessary; it was had written an anthem for Lithua - not mentioned in any of the pre- nians. The “National hymn” was war constitutions of Lithuania. sung for the first time when Vincas When the Soviets occupied Kudirka was close to dying. That was being sung. The melody grabbed Lithuania and after the so-called was on November 13, 1899, during everyone’s heart and emotions because “election of the people’s congress,” a concert in St. Petersburg held as a they all remembered a time not long Lithuanian radio was forced to trans - fund-raiser for Lithuanian students. ago when people would whisper the mit the sounds of the towers of the A year later, Kazys Grinius, a good words, “Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų” Kremlin at 10 p.m. each evening; at friend of Vincas Kudirka, referred (“Lithuania, our homeland”), in fear. midnight it was required to sign off to the hymn as a national anthem in At the same time, our hearts were filled by playing the “Internationale.” How - the press. He sought to propagate it with joy at the realization that finally ever, as it was being pushed out of at family gatherings and various we had achieved at least enough free - public life, the Lithuanian national meetings. People would stand while dom to be able to sing those words out anthem became a symbol of national singing this hymn, as is proper for a loud in public. resistance. This became especially ev - national anthem. The hymn was Singing Lithuania’s national an - ident in August of 1940, at a confer - sung at a special concert on the eve them fostered patriotism in the ence of Lithuania’s teachers held in of the first session of the Congress hearts of Lithuanians as well as hope the Kaunas Sports Center. The teach - of Vilnius. It received an especially and desire to take part in the restora - ers were required to sing the “Inter - enthusiastic reception, and it re - tion of the country. It encouraged nationale,” but instead they stood up ceived the respect appropriate for a doubters to take the Lithuanian path. and sang the Lithuanian national an - national anthem. The chorus, under According to Jadvyga Čiurlionytė, them. The servants of Moscow who the direction of the composer Mikas the anthem composed by Vincas were seated at the head table did not Petrauskas, had to perform the Kudirka influenced her brother, the know what to do. Some stood, some hymn several times. In 1906 sheet famous Lithuanian composer and sat, they felt as if they were out of music published at the behest of artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Či - place. Antanas Venclova, who was composer Antanas Kačanauskas re - urlionis, and his whole family to re - the People’s Commissar of Educa - ferred directly to the national an - cover their Lithuanian identity. tion at that time, wrote: “As many as them or hymn of Lithuania. The The Lithuanian national anthem 10,000 educators participated in the title was, “Lietuvių Hymnas. Žodžiai resounded grandly at the Lithuanian teachers’ conference, or as many called ir melodija V. Kudirkos. Fortepijonui conference in Vilnius in August of it - the teachers’ congress [...] The en - priruošė A. Kačanovskis.” (“The 1917. This conference elected the emies of the new order were afraid of Lithuanian Hymn. Words and music Lithuanian Council, which was em - expressing their views. However, as the by V. Kudirka. Piano part prepared powered to proclaim the reestablish - conference was concluding, they found by A. Kačanovskis.”). The old sym - ment of the Lithuanian state. The a way of reminding everyone of their bol of national sovereignty - the national anthem composed by Vin - existence - they got up and sang the Vytis - decorated the cover of the cas Kudirka was sung with great joy national anthem of bourgeois Lithua - publication. and solemnity on May 15, 1920, in nia.” That is how teachers demon - The singing of the Lithuanian the Kaunas Musical Theater Hall. strated their patriotism and loyalty to national anthem had a big impact Here Lithuania’s Constitutional Con - Lithuania. The Lithuanian national on people in all parts of Lithuania. gress held its first meeting. The pres - anthem was broadcast on June 23, The Lithuanian writer Žemaitė de - ident of the Congress, Aleksandras 1941, when Lithuanians revolted and scribed that impact in an article en - Stulginskis, read the unanimously took over the Kaunas radio station. titled “Kanklės” published in Vilnius adopted Declaration of Lithuania’s Many people listened to the Lithuan - in 1907: Independence as all the participants ian national anthem then with tears ...a group of Lithuanians began stood at attention. That day is con - in their eyes. singing together, and everyone in the sidered the day when the “Tautiška During the second Soviet occu - room stood up in unison because it was Giesmė” (“National Hymn”) offi - pation, singing of the Lithuanian na - the national Lithuanian anthem that

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 17 tional anthem was permitted for a ment of Lithuania. We always re - October 7, 1988, the sounds of the while. However, in 1945 a commis - membered Lithuania’s national an - Lithuanian national anthem accom - sion to “prepare a national anthem them during the Soviet years when panied the raising of the three-col - for the Lithuanian SSR” was created. we organized excursions called “Let’s ored flag of Lithuania over Gedimi - The commission was required to get to know Lithuania better,” par - nas Tower in Vilnius. Two days later complete its work by January 1, 1946. ticularly when one of these excur - the Lithuanian national anthem was However, the Soviet government de - sions took us to the grave of Dr. Vin - sung as our flag was raised above the layed adopting the alternative Lithuan - cas Kudirka in the town of Kudirkos bell tower of the War Museum of ian SSR anthem, which its lackeys had Naumiestis. We had a sort of legal Vytautas the Great in Kaunas. On composed, because it did not want to justification for honoring this great the evening of March 11, 1990, when increase tensions, especially because man because his book “Laisvos Va - the restoration of Lithuania’s inde - of the active partisan resistance to landos” (“Free Hours”) had been pendence was proclaimed, the Soviet occupation going on at the published in 1976. The “Tautiška Lithuanian national anthem was sung time. Meanwhile in Latvia and Esto - Giesmė” (“National Hymn”) was with solemnity. nia, where resistance was much published there in two columns of weaker, new were adopted eight lines. I would always use a book - in 1945. The Lithuanian SSR anthem, mark, so that I could open the book which sang the praises of the Soviet to page 43 where the words of the occupation, was adopted in July of Lithuanian national anthem were 1950. Antanas Venclova wrote the printed. One of the more trustworthy words. The music was by Balys Dvar - members of the excursion would de - ionas and Jonas Švedas. After the claim it as a candle was lit and placed atrocities of Stalin were made public, on Kudirka’s grave. We were over - the anthem was revised: Vacys come with feelings of solemn patri - Reimeris wrote new words and Ed - otism, and, in a moment of silence, uardas Balsys wrote new music for it. we joined our hearts to the roots of Nevertheless, the national an - a Lithuania that had not been be - them composed by Vincas Kudirka, trayed. We joined in with the exhor - Vincas Kudirka as pictured on the 500-litas like other symbols of independent tation of the broken Oak, which was note issued in 2000. (Lithuanian Bank web - site, public domain) Lithuania, continued to live through still alive in spirit as we proclaimed, the entire Soviet occupation, and it arise, arise, arise... It is good to remember the hon - engendered fear in those who had Despite the winds of occupation orable history of our national an - plundered our country. The secret which continued to blow, the sounds them and its final triumph. Now the singing of Lithuania’s national an - of Lithuania’s national anthem were “Tautiška Giesmė” of Vincas them strengthened the spirit of all heard ever more clearly as the years Kudirka is officially named the na - Lithuanians in Lithuania itself as well went by. People would sing it more tional anthem of Lithuania in sec - as in distant Soviet labor camps. often in public places. One memo - tion I, paragraph 16 of the Consti - Lithuanians living in the free world rable instance was in 1988. On Feb - tution of the Republic of Lithuania. also sang it with solemnity. What ruary 14th, it was sung in the Cathe - In 2009 sculptor Arūnas Sakalauskas beautiful memories we have of All dral of Kaunas, and on February created a monument to the national Souls Day, when in the evening a 16th, in the square in front of the anthem. (The architect was Ričardas large group of people would gather Cathedral of Vilnius. The national Krištapavičius.) Arūnas Sakalauskas in the old cemetery on Vytautas Street anthem rang out during the com - also sculpted a monument to Vincas in Kaunas and would sing the na - memorations of the deportations of Kudirka, the author of the national tional anthem of Lithuania boldly in June 1941, as well as during other im - anthem. This monument stands in an expression of hope that they portant events that the Sąjūdis move - aptly named Vincas Kudirka Square would be free of the Soviet yoke ment had organized. Finally on Oc - in Vilnius. It is in front of the build - some day. We sang Lithuania’s na - tober 6, 1988, the “Tautiška Giesmė” ing that houses the government of tional anthem in Rasų Cemetery in (“National Hymn”) written by Vincas the Republic of Lithuania. When the Vilnius on the evening of All Souls Kudirka received official recognition, monument was unveiled, Lithuani - Day in 1956 to greet the Hungarian and on November 18, 1988, it was ans from around the world sang the revolution and to protest the enslave - adopted as the national anthem. On national anthem as a sign of unity

18 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 ing the crowning of Mindaugas king the national anthem mean to you? of Lithuania, all Lithuanians, no The answers were very impressive: matter where they may be, sing the The national anthem is very im - national anthem of Lithuania at one portant for the people of Lithuania be - designated time. cause it symbolizes freedom and the On March 11, 2005, in a solemn dignity of our country, and it reminds session of the Parliament of the Re - us that we have to love our country. public of Lithuania, Professor Vy - The national anthem maintains our pa - tautas Landsbergis said: triotism and our trust. When I sing the ....My wish is that each person who national anthem, a pride in my country sings the Lithuanian national anthem and its history arises in my heart. This would hear the words of the anthem hymn demonstrates that our country is and understand what they mean. It is a united, that it is most beautiful and sin - remarkable anthem. No other country cere. The hymn unites us. We ought to has anything like it. In part - it is a sing it more often. solemn promise; in part - it is a prayer. We would like the anthem to Listen to these words: “May light and light the paths of our lives, to help truth lead our steps.” Here in a general us not to get lost in life’s byways. Sculpture by Arūnas Sakalauskas located way, using the concept of light, very We hope that the Lithuanian na - in Vincas Kudirka square in Vilnius. important things are being said. Some - tional anthem will be sung at least (www.vilnius-tourism.lt) body may recall the teachings found in once a week in all schools, and that and love for Lithuania. This singing the Bible, the command to the people: the symbols of our country will be gave rise to a new tradition which ‘Be children of the light.’ respected with sincerity. Let us build unites Lithuanians: each year on the In some city schools in Lithuania a bright and just Lithuania! government holiday commemorat - the students were asked: what does

Translated by Rimas Černius. Adapted from an address given to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Vincas Kudirka Public Library in Kaunas.

Lietuvos Himnas Official English translation Unofficial (singable) version Vincas Kudirka (Birutė Jatautaitė, 1994) (Jonas Daugirdas, 2015) Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų, Lithuania, our homeland, Lietuva our home and nation, Tu didvyrių žeme, Land of worshiped heroes! Land of valiant heroes! Iš praeities Tavo sūnūs Let your sons draw their strength From your glorious past Te stiprybę semia. From our past experience. Your sons draw strength, resolve Tegul Tavo vaikai eina Let your children always follow and power. Vien takais dorybės, Only roads of virtue, May your children walk the paths Tegul dirba Tavo naudai May your own, Of honor and integrity, Ir žmonių gėrybei. mankind’s well-being May they work for your well-being Tegul saulė Lietuvoj(s) Be the goals they work for. And for all of mankind. Tamsumas prašalina, May the sun above our land May the sun above our land Ir šviesa, ir tiesa Bannish darkening clouds around Banish cloud and shadow. Mūs žingsnius telydi. Light and truth all along Truth and right, radiant light Tegul meilė Lietuvos Guide our steps forever. Guide our steps eternally. Dega mūsų širdyse, May the love of Lithuania May the love of Lietuva Vardan tos, Lietuvos Brightly burn in our hearts. Burn forever in our hearts. Vienybė težydi! For the sake this land In your name, we proclaim: Let unity blossom. Unity and concord bloom!

The current official version of the Lithuanian National anthem. Note that the expression “saulė Lietuvos” was changed to “saulė Lietuvoj”, a subject of some controversy. The official English translation is written as listed on the Lithuanian Parliament website (www.lrs.lt) .

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 19 Who Put the ‘Mack’ in McDonald’s of Springfield? by Sandra Baksys

Mack McDonald’s store ad for the famous 15-cent hamburger, circa 1957. (Sangamon John Mack. (1975 artist-rendering of photo Valley Collection, Lincoln Library, Springfield, IL) portrait)

nybody who’s eaten a Mc - The Makarauskas family World War I in 1914. He was not Donald’s hamburger in Starting in 1890, two to three reunited with 10-year-old John and ASpringfield, IL has feasted thousand Lithuanian immigrants the rest of the family until they on a bit of local Lithuanian-Ameri - made their way to Springfield-area joined him in Springfield in 1922. can history. The tale of McDonald’s mines via Scotland and Pennsylva - John was forced to follow his first local franchisee involves a nia. John Mack’s father, Stanley, ar - father and older brother Michael Lithuanian coal miner aptly named rived in the United States to mine into mining at age 14 after complet - John Mack. John Makarauskas coal just before the outbreak of ing sixth grade. A growing scarcity changed his surname to Mack a full of local mine work combined with 16 years before he went into fast the communal tradition of job-shar - food. He had no way of knowing ing incentivized families to maximize he would one day be the man re - their headcount in the mines. sponsible for bringing “Mack-fries,” Already by the 1910s, frequent “Mack-cheeseburgers” and “Big mine shutdowns and job-sharing Macks” to Springfield. At the peak meant that most miners averaged of the Mack fast food empire in the only 2-3 days of work per week. 1980s, John’s family would own all Even worse, mines shut down for eight of Springfield’s McDonald’s the summers, when there was no restaurants. What an unimaginable need for coal and during protracted scenario that would have been to the biannual contract strikes. Unem - boy from strife-torn, World War I ployed miners typically resorted to Lithuania who hustled to keep him - Makarauskas family in 1922: Left to right, digging basements and scything self, his family, and his fellow work - back row: John Mack’s father and mother, cemetery grass for $1 a day. Wives Stanley and Agota, and Agota’s uncle; front ing man from going hungry for most row: brother Michael and John. (Family and mothers took in unmarried min - of his adult life. archive photo) ers as boarders and kept backyard

20 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 farms complete with chickens and 40 lives and injured hundreds. From commissary to rabbits to help support their cash- Lithuanian immigrants and their sons grocery poor families. were represented on both sides, but Mack’s commissary activities mainly, it seems, they were Progres - seem to have grown into a Mack gro - Mine wars sives like John Mack. cery store operated from 1941-43 on During the 1920s, increasing coal First Street in Springfield. In 1943 mine mechanization led to mass lay - Feeding striking miners’ Mack closed the First Street store and offs. This eventually culminated in families opened a larger corner grocery at one of the most important labor con - Having begun to work as a 1501 Keys Ave. Dorothy Maka - flicts of the 1930s, the so-called Cen - miner in 1926 as a boy of 14, Mack rauskas, wife of John’s much younger, tral Illinois “Mine Wars” (1932-36), seems to have become something American-born brother Frank, re - when mine owners tried to slash of a hero to the PMWA in his early members that the Keys Avenue store, wages at the height of the Great De - 20s by organizing and operating part which sold meat, bread, milk and dry pression. Here’s what happened: Ac - of the commissary system that fed goods, was Springfield’s first “self- cording to Carl D. Oblinger’s history, the strikers’ families. According to serve” corner grocery. This meant Divided Kingdom: Work, Community the State Journal-Register , one such that customers picked up their own and the Mining Wars in the Central Illi - commissary was operated in the items and brought them to the cashier, nois Coal Fields during the Great De - basement of Lithuanian immigrant instead of, as at other groceries of pression, in 1932, the United Mine Simonas (Sam) Lapinski’s Springfield the time, the staff moving about the Workers of America (UMWA) tried tavern. At the same time, many fam - store to fill customers’ orders. John to fraudulently impose a contract that ily-owned corner groceries, already Mack was also a butcher, a trade that Central Illinois miners had roundly accustomed to “carrying” striking no doubt proved handy both in his rejected. This caused local miners to and underemployed miners on credit commissary and grocery activities. en masse leave the UMWA to form a (or “on the book”), stepped up to Mack’s son Jim remembers the new union called the Progressive do more of the same during the pro - financial squeeze his father faced as Mine Workers of America (PMWA). tracted and bloody war between the he continued to broadly extend store During a protracted strike by the Pro - rival unions. credit well into the 1950s. To make gressives, the UMWA brought in It’s not certain what kind of matters worse, the first supermarket scabs from southern Illinois and co - commissary Mack operated when he chains had begun eating the small operated with mine operator Peabody was cash-poor and only in his young independent grocers’ lunch. Coal and its paid saboteurs. In addi - 20s. It could have been something tion, all the powers of the state, in - akin to today’s urban farms and food McDonald’s founder Ray cluding local sheriffs and the Illinois pantries. On page 92 of Oblinger’s Kroc enters the picture State Militia, were arrayed against the book, miner Tom Rosko exclaims: Then one day, Ray Kroc drove Progressives to break their strike in a “He carried them all [the strikers] in by the huge Allis-Chalmers con - violent struggle that claimed at least Springfield, John Mack!” struction machinery factory right across the street from the Macks’ home. Kroc considered the real es - tate across from the factory’s main gate the perfect site for Springfield’s first McDonald’s restaurant (the na - tion’s 69th). It was serendipity that brought together a new fast-food business model based on churning out hun - dreds of ground beef patties a day with Mack, a butcher able to provide the ground beef, but struggling to survive in the dying corner grocery business. The plan Mack devised with John Mack’s younger brother Frank carries a block of ice to a customer's car from John’s Kroc was bold. It required moving First Street grocery, 1943. (Family archive photo)

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 21 place for teens to work. It also be - came such a popular hotrod and “hippie” hangout that the packed parking lot required its own bouncer. Many local youth–boys only, ini - tially–earned their first paycheck at one of these restaurants. The ABCs of mass-pro - duced food In the early years, all the burgers, fries and buns were fresh and sourced locally. According to Mack daughter MaryAnn, her father had a ground-beef patty-making ma - chine made specially in St. Louis so he could keep his long-time Keys Avenue grocery employee Frances Trello busy churning out fresh pat - ties for his new restaurants. “Cor - John Mack (last person on the right) at the ribbon-cutting for his second McDonald’s in porate” dictated the lean meat and Springfield, 1961. (Sangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Library, Springfield, IL) fat content of each patty, along with his family home to permit construc - Teen hangouts the recipe followed by a local con - tion of the new restaurant and park - Mack’s first McDonald’s restau - tract bakery that delivered fresh- ing lot. This would take money–lots rant across from the Allis-Chalmers baked buns daily. of it (including Mack’s McDonald’s factory main gate opened in 1957. Son Jim recalls that potatoes franchise fee). A second opened in 1961 on South were delivered in 100-pound bags The upshot: John Mack needed MacArthur Boulevard. These were on a rail car. They were peeled with to borrow $100,000 in an era when small, open-air drive-ups, without the help of a peeling machine, then credit and large loans were extended eat-in capacity. Because customers sliced by hand into fries. After being much more cautiously than they are were expected to eat in their cars, washed and rinsed a total of three today. Daughter MaryAnn (Mack) the McDonald’s parking lots were times they were then blanched at Butts recalls: “Mary, our mother, was much more extensive than those of low heat until finally ready to be in the meetings with Dad when he restaurants. deep-fried. The soft ice cream for went to the banks. They literally In the 1960s and ‘70s, hot rods shakes was sourced locally, but the laughed at him and said, ‘You have would scoop a fast-food loop brack - shake flavor mixes came from head - a sixth-grade education, and you eted on either end by one of these quarters. Many of John Mack’s kids want to open a restaurant?’ Mother first two McDonald’s. Despite pay - and grandkids worked in the family said it was embarrassing, and she re - ing minimum wage, the McDonald’s business, including son John, Jr., and ally felt bad for him. The banks also on South MacArthur became THE daughter JoAnn (Mack) Shaugh - said, ‘Who would want to buy a 15- nessy’s husband and their daughter cent hamburger?’ They thought it Debbie (Shaughnessy) Blazis. The was ridiculous because that was kind magic starting work age for most of of expensive back then.” the Mack kids seemed to be 15 – Who, indeed? one year older than John when he John Mack refused to give up. followed his father Stanley into the Illinois National Bank, where one coal mines in 1926. of the executives was proud Lithuanian-American Augustus Premature death and fur - “Gus” Wisnosky (Vysniauskas), and ther expansion where much of the Lithuanian com - Employees of the McDonald’s located at Paterfamilias John died in 1974 1825 South MacArthur Boulevard, 1964. munity did business, finally agreed (Sangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Li - at the age of 61. “Dad didn’t have a to make the loan. brary, Springfield, IL) long life, and he only had a sixth

22 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 John Mack’s younger brother, Frank, as second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, circa 1945. (Family archive photo) ald’s.” Great corporate citizens, the “Mack McDonald’s” also sponsored innumerable local fundraisers and gave generously to Goodwill, among other local charities. The Makarauskas family organ- ized the creation of a Ronald Mc- Donald House in Springfield after experiencing a family tragedy. Ronald McDonald houses are erected near hospitals to provide a Mack family in the late 1940s. Left to right, back row: daughter JoAnn, John and his wife, home away from home for sick chil- Mary; middle row: sons Tom, John, Jr., and Jim; front: daughter MaryAnn. (Family archive dren and their families. John’s photo brother Frank and wife Dorothy had grade education, but he had guts, on the family over the years. But at an 18-year-old son, Robert, who suc- and he was really smart—very good least if a new location cannibalized cumbed to brain cancer. After John’s at math. He died a millionaire, and existing business, the business widow, Mary, visited a Ronald Mc- we are very proud of him,” his “gained” from a Mack restaurant Donald house in New York City, daughter MaryAnn said. would still belong to a Mack. Finally, near where young Robert was being After John Mack’s death, his in 1989, after 30 years in fast food, treated at Sloan-Kettering Cancer widow Mary, sons Tom and Jim, and the family sold all eight of their Center, she dedicated herself to do- daughter MaryAnn and her husband Springfield franchises and totally ex- nating and raising the funds neces- Gary Butts went on to open five ited the business. sary to provide such a house for the more locations in Springfield. The Springfield community. family considered this to be a supe- A man who was ‘larger rior option to having “corporate” than life’ open a competing new location by John Mack was a bigger-than- For more information about Lithuani- bringing in a non-Mack franchisee. life personality who “would light up ans in Springfield, please visit the au- Not all of the new locations that thor’s blog at http://lithspringfield.com. the place” when he visited one of The author’s “best of blog” book, “corporate” wanted were profitable, his restaurants to sit down and enjoy titled “A Century of Lithuanians in and son Jim remembers that grow- a burger, according to Don Gietl, Springfield, Illinois”, will be available ing the business took a heavy toll who worked at a “Mack McDon- this fall from Amazon.com.

September/ October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 23 Knitting in Lithuania by Donna Druchunas Photos by Dominic Cotignola

Donna Druchunas

am an American of Lithuanian times, staying from a few weeks to a weavers, farmers and yarn manufac - descent, and I am a knitter. So few months on each trip, and have turers. Beginning in Vilnius, my hus - Iwhen I had a chance to visit travelled around the country. band and I—along with our friend Lithuania in 2007, the first thing I June Hall, who is also of Lithuanian wanted to learn about was knitting. Where Do You Find Knit - descent—traveled to cities, villages, What makes knitting Lithuanian? Is ting in Lithuania? and farms from Vilnius and Šiauliai it special techniques that are used? The year after my first short visit to Mažeikiai and Palanga, and many A unique way to hold the yarn and to Vilnius, I had an opportunity to places in-between. needles? Certain combinations of spend most of the summer in We visited many local art and colors? The styles of clothing and Lithuania. After a month-long lan - history museums. Two that stand accessories that are made? These guage course at Vilnius University, I out in my mind are the Šiaulių were the questions I was asking my - spent several weeks traveling around “Aušros” muziejus (Šiauliai Aušros self as I flew over half of North the country to meet knitters, Museum) and the Mažeikių muziejus America, across the Atlantic and over most of Europe to make my way from Colorado to the country where all four of my father’s grand - parents had been born. On that trip, I only had five rainy days to explore Vilnius, the nation’s capital. In those few days I stumbled onto beautiful hand-knit accessories in Old Town at the tourist market, in fiber-arts galleries hidden in small alleys spidering out from the town center, in museums, at a national folk song festival featuring thou - sands of performers dressed in his - torical costumes, and in demonstra - tions of traditional crafts at Cathedral Square. There were also yarn shops hiding in nooks and cran - nies around the city. Since then, I’ve gone back to visit Lithuania five Woman knitting on Pilies gatvė in Vilnius.

24 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 In Baisogala we met Dr. Žilvinas Augustinavičius, a veterinarian and farmer, who gave us a tour of a large sheep farm and introduced us to several knitters in the area. One eld - erly woman who designed all of her own patterns gave us each a pair of gloves and showed us the book of patterns she drew on graph paper. Throughout our trip we were given wonderful hand-knit gifts. We Marija giving June and Donna a knitting also had the opportunity to purchase lesson in her home. many more items from vendors in markets and at craft fairs, as well as from individual knitters we met along the way as we drove from town to town. After this trip, June and I decided to collaborate on a book to share the beauty of Lithuan - ian knitting with knitters and readers around the world. What follows is a small bit of what we learned about Hand-knit socks and mittens for sale in the knitting in Lithuania. Vilnius Tourist Market. Sweater designed and knit by Marjia. (Mažeikiai Museum), where we were more. Maria gave June and me each What Do Lithuanians Knit? privileged to see collections of hand- a pair of hand-knit slippers. When you walk down a city knit mittens, gloves, socks and wrist In Vilnius, I was privileged to street in Lithuania today, you see col - warmers that were not in the ex - take a knitting class at Mezgimo Zona lege students wearing jeans and hibits open to the public. (The Knitting Zone), a shop on mini-skirts, business people in suits In Mažeikiai, we also met Marija, Pylimo gatvė. The teacher, Irena and dresses, construction workers an expert knitter who invited us to Felomena Juškienė, taught us how with boots and hardhats, and a few her home for home-baked apple frit - to make beaded riešinės (wrist warm - old women wearing 1950s-style ters and coffee served in beautiful ers) that were popular throughout housedresses and babushkas. But it china cups. She gave us a lesson in Lithuania in the nineteenth century. is only since the end of the nine - knitting and showed us the beautiful sweaters and socks she designed and knit for her family using an album of charts she has compiled, with motifs of rabbits, cats, stars, and

Floral-patterned mittens in the Mažeikiai Donna with Irena Felomena Juškienė learning about riešinės at Mezgimo Zona in Museum collection. Vilnius.

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 25 ning wheel like a character in a fairy mother, from mother to daughter. tale, women made fine linen threads (On occasion knitting was used to and tested finished skeins to make make sashes, hats and even sweaters, sure they would fit through a wed - but these items were usually made ding ring to prove the quality of with other techniques.) their work. This linen was woven Because Lithuania was occupied into fabric for clothing and house - by several different nations during hold textiles, and some was knit into the twentieth century, the traditional summer gloves and socks. Coarse national costume based on peasants’ Lithuanian wool was spun into holiday clothing, became a very strong yarn to knit warm winter strong and important part of the clothing and accessories, including Lithuanian identity. When the mittens and socks. was suppressed Traditionally in Lithuania knit - by the and speaking ting was not considered to be a very out against “The Party” was danger - important craft. It was a skill that ous, wearing a pair of hand-knitted every woman possessed, some with gloves might be the only way one more talent than others. Spinning could display quiet resistance. Now Many knitters in Lithuania design their own and weaving were the arts that gave that Lithuania is once again an in - patterns based on traditional weaving mo - a woman prestige in the community. dependent nation, on national holi - tifs as well as modern ideas. This skilled Even so, for holiday wear and for days and during summer music and knitter made knitting patterns of the Zodiac weddings and other special celebra - crafts festivals the streets and shops signs. tions, special accessories were knit are filled with people dressed in re - teenth century that mass-produced with elaborate patterning and metic - productions of traditional garments. garments have been prevalent in ulous workmanship, which would Members of national song and Lithuania. Before that, and even into make most of today’s knitters in dance troupes continue to spin yarn the early decades of the twentieth America and Europe green with by hand and knit the beautiful ac - century, homemade clothing was the envy. cessories that are part of the rule, particularly in rural areas. Today women in Lithuania use Lithuanian national costume. Well into the twentieth century, patterns from books or the internet making clothing and household tex - to make sweaters, shawls, afghans, Socks tiles was an integral part of daily life toys and a huge variety of fashion - Traditional hand-knit woolen for rural villagers in Lithuania. Small able and kitschy projects just like winter socks were made with wool farms were self-sufficient; little or knitters everywhere else in the West - yarn worked in a double-layered col - no money was available to supple - ern world; however, in times past, orwork pattern. Socks for men and ment the household’s home produc - knitting was mostly used to make women often featured geometric tion. All of the women and girls in socks, mittens, gloves and wrist patterns, with striped or solid heels each family spun wool and linen into warmers in traditional patterns and patterned or solid toes. Yarns yarn. Using a drop spindle or a spin - passed down from grandmother to might be brightly colored or be left in the wool’s natural shades of white, gray, brown and black. Today the tourist markets offer simplified ver - sions of these socks made from heavy yarn, with patterning limited to the sock leg and, sometimes, the foot of the sock. Linen summer socks featured color patterns or lace stitches for women and girls and were knit plain for men. Knitted socks sometimes had ribbing at the top, but longer stockings were tied around the knees Donna buying socks from a street vendor in Vilnius. with woven bands. Women also knit

26 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 metric shapes, and later designs in - its maker and details about the time cluded many floral motifs. More rare and place in which it was made. The are patterns of birds and elk and materials and stitches chosen tell us other animals. All of these designs about what yarns and patterns were depict the beauty of the Lithuanian available to the knitter. The gauge landscape and recall the warmer days and evenness of the stitching tell us of summer. The patterns on gloves about her skill level, while the wear and mittens were often larger and (or lack thereof) on the knitting gives Mittens and socks for sale in the Vilnius tourist market. more elaborate than patterns used us clues about whether it was made on socks. Many popular colorwork for everyday use or just for special “footless stockings” (leg warmers) patterns are adaptations of older occasions. Ultimately, I believe what for summer wear, not for warmth, weaving designs. makes the knitting of Lithuania—or but to keep their legs from getting any place—special is the spirit of the scratched when they worked in the Wrist Warmers people and the soul of the place. fields. In the eighteenth and nineteenth Here is what I discovered during my centuries, both men and women in several trips: whether it is traditional Mittens Lithuania wore woolen wrist warm - or trendy, kitschy or couture, comfy Mittens and gloves carried spe - ers in all seasons. These wrist warm - or chic, historical or contemporary, cial significance in Lithuanian cul - ers were snug and tight and could if it is made of wool or linen, it can ture. There was a time when many be worn either under or over the be found in Lithuania. Lithuanians believed that gloves had cuffs on a shirt or blouse. Everyday magical or supernatural power, and wrist warmers were knit from left - festive designs were knit as gifts on over homespun yarn and made with special occasions to protect and any technique that struck the knit - bless family members and loved ter’s fancy. Some were ribbed in one ones, as well as to celebrate the ma - color or with stripes, some were jor passages in life. made with cable patterns or other fancy texture patterns, a few were made in lacy stitches, and some were even crocheted. But holiday wristers were always made with special store- bought yarn and tiny glass beads, usually white but sometimes in other colors. The wristers were made flat and either sewn closed or fastened with decorative buttons. Lace wris - Donna Druchunas is a writer and ters and longer fingerless gloves knitwear designer with passions for were made from bleached white knitting, world travel and research. linen to be worn at weddings. She has been visiting Lithuania, where her great grandparents were Today beaded wrist warmers are born, every year since 2007. Donna among the most popular knitted has been designing knitwear and items in Vilnius. Walking through writing for over a decade and is the Woman knitting wrist warmers on a street the streets, you spy them for sale author of award-winning knitting in Vilnius to sell in the tourist market. books. by women selling their wares on Her newest book, Lithuanian Knitting: As magical as gloves may be, street corners, at booths in the Continuing Traditions (2015, Double mittens do a better job of keeping tourist market and in upscale folk- Vision Press), available through fingers warm in extremely cold art galleries. http://sheeptoshawl.com/lithuani - weather, and they were much more anknitting, tells the story of knitting common for everyday wear. Nor - in Lithuania and includes 25 patterns Conclusion for socks, mittens, gloves and wrist mally knitted in color designs using Knitting is fascinating not only warmers. Donna teaches an online two or more strands of yarn at once, because it is beautiful and functional, class on how to knit mittens and a these mittens were very dense and but also because each stitch infuses hat with a Lithuanian reindeer motif warm. The oldest patterns were geo - a hand-knit project with the story of at www.craftsy.com.

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 27 BLooik trevhiewu by Daonnatasi Jaanu’tsa History in English “The History of Lithuania,” the 50 years of occupation, includ - (2015 2nd rev. edition, 327 pp. Vil - ing the 10-year partisan “war after nius, Lithuania), by Alfonsas Eidin - the war,” and the consequences to tas, Alfredas Bumblauskas, Antanas the country’s cultural, religious, eco - Kulakauskas, Mindaugas Tamošaitis. nomic and political development The four authors cover Lithuania’s and survival. For someone who de - history from the beginning of the sires to read more about the most ancient Baltic tribes to Lithuania’s tragic years of that period, I would 2004 membership in NATO and the recommend “The Tragic Pages of European Union. The book was Lithuanian History 1940-1953,” by commissioned and financed by Vladas Terleckas (2014 Vilnius). Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Af - In the final chapter, “The fairs. This revised edition was edited Singing Revolution,” the reader and translated into English by learns how Lithuanians used Gor - Skirma Kondratas and Ramūnas bachev’s “perestroika” to form the Kondratas, two Lithuanian-Ameri - liberation movement “ Sąjudis, ” and can historians, who, in preparing this The chapter, “Lithuania Under about the events that led to the ulti - edition, in both content and style, the (1793-1915),” mate independence of the country. aimed at the English-speaking covers the Russian czar’s oppression, The most dramatic events of this reader. The text is accompanied by russification, the 1831 and 1865 up - period include the 675 kilometer well-selected illustrations and maps. risings, the prohibition of the Lithuan - Baltic Way in 1989 formed by two There are plans to publish the cur - ian press and books, and the 19th cen - million people joining hands across rent edition in print, though for now tury’s Lithuanian national awakening. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia; Gor - it is available only on the Internet: A separate chapter is devoted to bachev’s economic blockade of http://urm.lt/uploads/de - the interwar years, including the suc - Lithuania in 1990; the January 1991 fault/documents/Travel_Resi - cessful military battles and diplo - military attack on Lithuania’s Parlia - dence/history_of_lithuania_new.pdf matic efforts that restored independ - ment and Vilnius’ TV tower which The first chapter is devoted to ence in 1918. The economic, social killed 14 civilians; and the suspense the Grand and and cultural progress of the nation, in waiting for other countries to rec - the second to the Union of Lithua - despite the difficult relations with ognize Lithuania’s independence. nia with . The Polish-Lithuan - Poland over the Vilnius question, The authors note that the ian Commonwealth was created by and the loss of Klaipėda, is fully pre - United States and other Western the Union of Lublin in 1569, when sented, with this period culminating countries delayed recognizing Lithuania was forced to choose be - in the loss of independence at the Lithuania’s independence because tween a military defeat to Russia or beginning of World War II. they feared that to do so would un - a union with Poland. The book The “” of Lithuania dermine Gorbachev’s “perestroika” vividly presents the pain and sorrow in the 1920s and 1930s is contrasted reforms: “It was not easy for the of the Lithuanian delegation, in hav - favorably with the nationalism of its West to choose between ‘Gorby’ and ing to make this choice at Lublin. large neighbors. German, Soviet and Lithuania.” The book notes that A similar sad day for the nation Polish nationalism was used as a ba - Lithuania’s achievement of inde - occurred in 1792, when the King of sis for aggression against other na - pendence significantly contributed Poland capitulated to Russia, which tions, while Lithuania’s nationalism to the demise of the Soviet Union. precipitated the first partition, and was defensive, a means by which to The History of Lithuania pres - eventually led to the third and final respond to its neighbors’ expansion - ents Lithuania’s history in a concise partition and absorption of Lithua - ist policies and actions. and easy-to-read format. It is a book nia and Poland by Russia, Austria The chapter “Lithuania: The So - well worth reading by anyone with and Prussia. viet and Nazi Occupations,” covers an interest in Lithuania.

28 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 Let’s Cook with Ona Daugirdas Lithuanian Baking with Honey s there a Lithuanian on this Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat mix into the batter. Pour into 9 x 5 earth who doesn’t cherish a honey, stirring until it comes to a boil. inch greased and floured loaf pan. Imemory of mother or grand - Set aside to cool. Cream brown sugar Bake approx. 60-65 minutes. Check mother or a favorite aunt baking and butter until fluffy. Mix in 4 egg for doneness. Allow to cool com - meduolis (honey cake)? Oh, the yolks one at a time, then add honey. pletely before slicing. smells of honey and cinnamon and Sift flour with leavenings and all cloves that filled the kitchen… And of the spices. Mix half of this flour then that moment of delight when mixture into the batter. Add the sour you were handed a piece of moist, cream and mix in. Follow with the dark-brown meduolis with a frosty remaining flour. Beat reserved egg cold glass of milk… Almost heaven. whites into moderate peaks and gen - Meduolis is not a fancy cake – tly fold into the batter. it’s just simple goodness: basic in - Pour batter into greased and gredients, not too sweet, easy to floured 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Bake make. After a couple of days in an 50 minutes. Optional (but recom - air-tight cookie tin, it’s even more mended): while still warm, brush cake Meduoliukai–Honey cookies delicious. Could a napoleonas ever with a wash of 1 Tbsp. honey and 1 Roll these cookies thicker than say that? Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice. you’re used to. They’re just better that There are hundreds of recipes way. for meduolis – it seems that every Orange Honey Cake 1 cup butter This meduolis gets its subtle com - 2 Lithuanian šeimininkė makes it her ⁄3 cup brown sugar own special way (just like kugelis, plexity and depth from orange and cof - ¾ cup honey šaltibarščiai and krupnikas ). Lithua - fee. It is baked in a loaf pan. 1 egg + 1 yolk, white reserved nians are individualists. No discus - ½ cup honey 1 Tbsp. lemon zest 2 sion! But if you don’t have your own ⁄3 cup brown sugar 4½ cups flour favorite recipe just yet, give these 3 Tbsp. oil 1 tsp. baking soda two a try. And since there is nothing 2 eggs 1 tsp. cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg 1 better than a good basic cookie ⁄3 cup frozen orange juice Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream when you’re prowling your pantry concentrate butter and sugar until light and for a bit of “something,” we are in - ¼ cup warm water fluffy. Mix in honey, egg, egg yolk cluding a recipe for Honey Cookies. 1 Tbsp. grated orange zest 2 tsp. instant coffee and lemon zest. Sift flour with bak - Meduolis –Honey Cake dissolved in 1 Tbsp. warm water ing soda and spices. Add flour mix - The classic spice and honey cake ¼ tsp. salt ture to batter incrementally. Switch of our memories. Honey tends to make 1¾ cup flour to mixing by hand as the dough be - the batter heavy, sour cream lightens it 1 tsp. baking soda comes stiff. – make sure not to omit it. 1 tsp. baking powder Divide dough in half and flatten 1 cup honey ½ tsp. cinnamon, ginger, allspice into 2 rounds. Wrap and refrigerate ½ cup brown sugar ¼ tsp. cloves for 1-2 hours. Roll out (remember: thick is best) and cut out with cookie 3 Tbsp. butter Preheat oven to 350°F. With 4 eggs, separated cutters or rotary cutter to desired mixer at medium speed, mix honey, shapes. Lightly beat reserved egg 2½ cups flour sugar, oil and eggs. Add orange juice 2 tsp. baking soda white and brush tops of cookies. concentrate, water, orange zest, dis - We like to press in a blanched al - 1 tsp. baking powder solved coffee and salt. Mix well. 1 tsp. cinnamon and ginger mond for decoration and crunch. Sift flour with baking soda, bak - Bake for 11-13 minutes depending ½ tsp. nutmeg, allspice, cloves ing powder and spices and gently 1 cup sour cream on size and thickness.

September / October 2015 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE 29 5678%9.::3(#9%6*#$32"/%&-./*034*2=% (&2"<"3.9=%*4-%93/"*2%3.#(&*/$%:(3M&/#9% "4%5"#$.*4"*%*4-%"#9%-"*9:3(*L% 9/.7%?@P?Q@BAC@DARA%S%T@N0>.7%>1U)V.6*&0.(0L)*G%% O>12%'&%)1%O04/F))6W%%X/F%&>+/&7% KKKL!Y#Z0.(0L)*GS%%%KKKL!"#$>2L)*G%

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32 LITHUANIAN HERITAGE September / October 2015 Lithuanian Portraits

At the 10th North American Lithuanian Song Festival it was good to see Bill Walton once again after so many years.

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