Lithuanians on Fire in Aromas!, By Edita McQuary

COMMUNITY NEWS

Lithuanians on Fire in Aromas!

By Edita McQuary

Among ancient oak trees on private property in Aromas, the Lithuanian language and peals of laughter echoed on the afternoon of Saturday, June 24. Red, yellow, and green Lithuanian flags fluttered throughout the campsite. The San Francisco Bay Area Lithuanian Community was celebrating its annual midsummer festival known as “Jonines” or, in English, St. John’s Festival. This is an ancient pre-

Christian celebration, which includes dancing around a bonfire, singing ancient folk songs and creating floral wreathes which traditionally, the women and girls wear on their heads but nowadays even the liberated menfolk willingly do so.

You may remember that the small Eastern European country of Lithuania was the first of the Baltic countries to declare itself free of the then-Soviet Union on March 11, 1990. Held captive since the end of World War II in 1945, the three Baltic countries, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia had what came to be called the “Singing Revolution” and are now independent once again.

The San Francisco Bay Area Lithuanian Community did themselves proud as about 50 adults and a dozen or so kids got together from all over the S.F. Bay Area to celebrate this ancient summer festival.

Current Lithuanian popular music played on the loudspeaker for the young people (jaunimas) and adults to enjoy. The tables groaned with delicious food while people stood around getting acquainted and re-acquainted. Tents were set up for those who planned to camp (kemping) overnight. With a nod to American camping culture, s’mors (s’morzai) stations were set up and ready to go.

Two beautiful, charming pre-teens named Meile (Love) and Diamante (Diamond) were getting settled in their tent and explained how they came to be adopted a few years ago from their foster home in Lithuania. They now live in San Jose with their parents Renata and Dacijus. Asked what was different about life in the U.S. compared to Lithuania, Meile said there was more freedom but also more dangerous animals.

“Aromas Lithuanians” page 12