Illustrations by Albina Makūnaitė (1926–2001) from the publication Mes vyžoti būrai (We, serfs, with bast-shoes): Kristijonas Donelaitis. Mes vyžoti būrai. Vilnius: Vaga, 1975.

Donelaitis shows that for the Lithuanians, surrounded by foreigners, it is not easier, and perhaps even harder, to fight back, compared to a city under siege by a clear and definite enemy. The influence of the foreigners creeping towards the region of Lithuanian Vyžlaukis is deceptively enticing in the richness of their clothes (girls no longer want to wear traditional brightly-coloured skirts, men adopt foreign footwear), alcoholic drinks, Collectors various moral promiscuity. The poet does not advocate armed struggle. He always repeats that Lithuanians can Coins only resist with courtesy. A courteous character in The Seasons is one who does not disown their ancestor’s livelihood, traditions, language, who works honestly, is not a TH drunkard, is honest, decent, pious, truthful and tidy. Courteousness is the ideal of COIN DEDICATED THE 300 ANNIVERSARY the whole community, a guarantee of its thriving and survival. Only it can save the OF THE BIRTH OF KRISTIJONAS DONELAITIS lietuvninkai. It isn’t easy to resist through hard work, a relationship with their language and customs, strict honesty and integrity. This truly requires warrior-like perseverance, Silver Ag 925 patience, and courage. Donelaitis believes that not everyone is capable of fighting Quality proof Diameter 38.61 mm their vices (laziness, drunkenness, negligence, propensity for theft, deceit), and strongly Weight 28.28 g condemns those scoundrels, considering moral derangement a threat to the survival of the Lithuanians. The poet argues without tiring that virtuous Lithuanians must be The edge of the coin bears the inscription: and should feel that they are different and better than the newcomers. He continually JAU SAULELĖ VĖL ATKOPDAMA BUDINO SVIETĄ teaches dignity, saying that they do not have to be ashamed of their situation, their (THE CLIMBING SUN AGAIN WAS WAKENING THE WORLD) bast-shoes, their works. In congratulating the community with the beginning of Woodcuts by artist Vytautas Kalinauskas (1929–2001). Illustrations Designed by Tadas Žebrauskas and Giedrius Paulauskis summer, he prays: from the publication Jau saulelė vėl...: Kristijonas Donelaitis. Jau saulelė vėl... Vilnius: Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1963. Mintage 3,000 Issued in 2014 All hail, and God grant that you see many a spring, Information is available at the Bank of Lithuania And that each spring may find you in the best of health! Tel. +370 5 268 0316 God bless each one who loves our dear Lithuania old — E-mail [email protected] And who Lithuanian speaks while feudal tasks performs — www.lb.lt God grant that he may see many a happy spring, And after each gay spring, a summer full of joy.

The coin was minted at the UAB Lithuanian Mint www.lithuanian-mint.lt The poet’s prayer and the whole epos are marked by the sign of eternal relevance, Lithuanian Collectors Coins characteristic of classic literature. They are suitable for every age. Let us hope that the words of Donelaitis will be heeded, and God willing that all those who love and will love © Lietuvos bankas, 2014 The coins were photographed by Arūnas Baltėnas Lithuania, those who, in speaking Lithuanian perform their feudal tasks, will be healthy, Designed by Klaudijus Gelžinis that is, undamaged by any diseases that weaken a nation, that they will not die out and disappear, that they will for eternity stand in the heavenly circle, hundreds upon The publication uses a photo by A. Jaramaitis of Kristijonas Donelaitis’ bust, created based on Vytautas Urbanavičius’ reconstruction (sculptor — Erikas Varnas); copies of Kristijonas thousands of times will celebrate spring holidays and will have industrious summers, Donelaitis’ manuscripts from the archives of the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore; COIN DEDICATED THE 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF copies of digital illustrations from the collection at the Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian THE BIRTH OF KRISTIJONAS DONELAITIS both merry and sweet. Illustrations for K. Donelaitis’ poem Metai Academy of Sciences. from a card set by Vytautas Jurkūnas (1910–1993): Kristijonas Donelaitis. Permission to publish the works of V. K. Jonynas was provided by the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art; the works of V. Kalinauskas, V. Jurkūnas and A. Makūnaitė — by LATGA, 2014. Dalia Dilytė Metai = The Year = Времена года = Les saisons = Das Jahr [cards]. Vilnius: Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1963. Published by the Bank of Lithuania, Gedimino pr. 6, LT-01103 Vilnius Printed by UAB Lodvila, www.lodvila.lt The poet deliberately took the side of the lowest social class and considered them his Lithuanians live on, they will again work the same work, merry springs will give way to KRISTIJONAS DONELAITIS brothers, countrymen, friends. The heroes of the epos The Seasons are those same boors hot summers, plentiful autumns, snowy winters, and the circle will go round and round who were forced into serfdom, abused, mocked. Donelaitis not only felt for the Lithuanian as it had always done. In the eternal circle of life there is birth, old age, death; everything serfs, but he exalted them. The poet claimed that boors should be proud that their labour is repeated, nothing new happens. Therefore, there is no reason to be surprised that supported all the lords of leisure and n’er-do-wells. The work of the serfs, in the opinion of an epos with such an idea does not have a storyline full of twists and turns: it takes its Donelaitis, is a school of certain intellect: those who can’t do it often speak nonsense. The time depicting hard workers and idlers, serf meetings, their conversations, activities and The Lithuanian poet Donelaitais, born on 1 January poet noted that in terms of intelligence, the people of the countryside exceeded the city meals, weddings, the corruption and hardheartedness of the landlords. Incorporating 1714 in Lasdinehlen (a long-gone village not far from dwellers and manor lords; therefore he urged the boors to work and reprehended idlers. In not only the people, but also birds, rodents, insects, animals, livestock, grains, vegetables, Gumbinnen in Lithuania Minor), is of great importance The Seasons he attempted to show the greatness of the peasant’s labour and its results. Here’s mushrooms, food products, Donelaitis attempts to prevent them from remaining in and value. In 1736–1740 he studied theology at the how he solemnly praised the women’s work: nothingness and calls them to be. Providing details, the poet covers the entirety of the University of Königsberg, from 1740–1743 he worked Lithuanian community’s world. With the repetition of the same elements of life within as cantor, organist and school director in Stallupönen, For you deserve high praise for spinning speedily, the circle, neither innovations nor individuality are desirable; therefore this type of epos and from 1743 until his death he was a pastor in Transforming hards and flax into an even thread. does not require versatile and distinctly individualised characters. Lauras, Selmas, Krizas, Tollmingkehmen. There he died on 18 February 1780. Of You merit high regard when in the early spring Dočys, Slunkius and other characters in the poem have only several characteristics his works, only the hexametric poem The Seasons (Metai) You strike your loom and shift the shuttle back and forth. illustrated through age and moral features. Not one single boor is the most important and six fables remain. You reign supreme when your homewoven linen goods, character of the epos, but the Lithuanian community as a whole. Although the poet’s father was a free peasant who was Like gleaming springtime snow, on the green meadows shine. The internal tension of the epos is based on the idea that the existence of this not burdened by the obligations of serfdom, Donelaitis community is in danger. The characters by Donelaitis are neither military leaders nor throughout his childhood and life as a pastor was well Donelaitis preached the idea of eternal return and cyclical movement. His affectionately kings, neither brave soldiers nor sailors. They do not fight on the battlefield, they do acquainted with the life of hunger and hard work that so-called “little Sun” returns in spring and reaches its zenith, while in autumn it rolls on, all not wrestle monsters, but the poet shows that they are in a constant state of war. This was common for his neighbours, the serfs, known as the while dictating the work and activities of the peasants. At the end of the poem the is not a real war, where the enemy deploys its army around the city walls, and all the boors (būrai) in the region. community’s elder, Pričkus, dies, although the poet claims that nothing ends with that: people desperately defend it with weapons, but the situation of Donelaitis’ peasants is similar, as the Lithuanians have to survive, surrounded by strangers. After the 1709– Yea; you and I know well serfdom’s regretful lot, 1711 plague, which killed nearly half of the Lithuanian population, many colonists from How everyday boors must bend their breaking backs, Germany, France, Switzerland and other lands were introduced to Lithuania Minor. The And drag like burden beasts a load of cares and woes. Seasons depicts the region of Vyžlaukis, which finds itself surrounded by foreigners. The opposing forces — the foreign-controlled manor and the newcomers colonists — incessantly encroach on Lithuanian property, customs, morality, existence:

E’en though the Germans hold the Lithuanians as fools, And though the Frenchmen view us with a scornful eye, Yet they enjoy full well our good Lithuanian bread, And smoked sausages they eat, and ask for more. Then having stuffed themselves with lush Lithuanian pork, And having round by round drained out our homemade beer, They’re not a bit ashamed to taunt our decent men. Ye, arrogant Frenchmen, and ye flamboyant Swiss, And all ye who come here to trouble our dear land, What right have you to scorn our upright workingmen? Woodcuts by graphic artist Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas (1907–1997). Illustrations from the publication Metai (The Seasons): Kristijonas Donelaitis. Metai. Kaunas: Valstybinė leidykla, 1941.