I thought that you might be interested in some stories about them. Forgive me, if you aren't interested Lithuania was apart of Soviet Union so any movement was considered to be threatening. In 1972 May 14th Romas Kalanta, hippie from Kaunas, burnt himself shouting "Liberty for Lithuania" beforehand. This event had a huge repercussion in all Union. Government allowed to arrest all hippie-looking people who would gather in public places. All the students, who weren't at school that day, had to come to school with their parents and explain where they were. A year later, the same day, policemen and soldiers were everywhere to make sure that nothing like this would happen again. They had all rights to arrest or beat up anyone who would seem suspicious to them. Students had to stay at school until the late vening, because many thing were planned for them to do and so they couldn't go to public places. By the way, it was announced that Kalanta was a mental patient and he couldn't control his actions, which of course wasn't truth: he was a normal 19 years old student. Also this wasn't the only such event but all the other people who did the same thing were announced to be mentals too. Just wanted to share this horrible story
This was a very interesting story to me, Terra. Mostly because I am half Lithuanian and half Hungarian. I spotted the name; Lithuania and I came right in to read your post. I am very interested in, what I will call, my Homeland. And the only other Lithuanians that I have met are my father's parents, who are long dead now. I would love to visit the country, but that would be years away because of my Goats, horse and other critters. Thank You for posting this... Thank You very much.
isn't Lithuania where they tore down a statue of lenin in a capital square then thought: 'what to put up instead?' Now there's a bust of Frank Zappa there in his place. ~
You are right And, Sam, I'm glad to hear that you are interested, if you want anything to know, feel free to ask. This is so exciting! I am here for just a few days and I meet the second person who is connected to Lithuania.
I am glad that you liked it And it's very interesting for me that there are few people who has some connection with Lithuania.
I live in Poland. I'm young but I heard some stories about hippies in my country. First wave was in 1967 in 2 biggets cities. Cracow and Warsaw. It was gropus of a few hundread people. Later in late 60s and 70s hippies were in mostly middle towns. in the capitol was a few thousands of them. They were built hiphouses in the mountains. Mostly in Bieszczady mountains. That terrains was wild and unknow for others. As you know Poland was controlled by communists, hippies were blunted, wild hipsouses were destroyed and it was a hard time. Second wave of hippies was in 80s and it was a great times. Poland was still controlled by a communists but they organised very big festival JAROCIN. It was 3 days of music, events, art etc. Like a woodstock. It was over a 0,5 million of people in that place. But on that festival come punks, hippies, new wavers and the rest. It was a great time. But it was no riots between all subcultures. And I really understand people from Lithuana
Greetings from Latvia here! From what I have heard and read, we also had our fair share of hippies - infact, every year there were hippie camps/communes for the summer in Gauja and Lilaste.
Your post is definitely welcome, Terra. I think there are a lot of people here - left alone me - who sure are curious about counterculture and underground movements' history, particularly all the untold stories coming from the former East block. Your sad story makes me wonder about what kind of life could possibly hippies lead under repression, set apart such extreme acts of protest, and also if there was a lithuanian/eastern way of the hippie, i mean a different way of being such, substantial differences and peculiarities. Just to lighten the thread... In Italy hippies were mostly called figli dei fiori, which is sons of the flowers... any local lithuanian name ?
In Czechoslovakia was also protest like those which was made by Kalanta in Lithuania. But the name of that Czech boy was Jan Palach. He was 21 years old student who committed suicide by self-immolation as burning torch. It was political protest of some students (maybe there were four), who wanted to change something and Palach was chosen by lot. It was protest against Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1969. The funeral of Palach turned into a major protest and a month later Jan Zajíc (another student) also burned himself to death in the same place (Wenceslas Square in Prague - Václavské námìstí, Praha = in native). I also mean from my childhood that is a horrible story.
this is one of the most interesting threads i have come across in a long time. are there any books on this side of the counterculture. i have never realised there was something like a hippy counterculture in the sovjet union. I´m really curious how it started, I mean they weren´t allowed to read on the road by jack kerouac, i suppose. or were they?
Well, in Soviet Union there were a lot of things which were forbidden. Books, music, art, ,,dangerous" people who talked about peace, democracy, or different subcultures, styles of living. Also philosophy, religion. If some communist saw teacher in the church, he lost his position. But there were still persons who believed in things that spoak their mind. In example with religion, my friends father and grandfa were in jail, ´cuz their smuggled Bibles. This is also reason why I don´t like sentences about people from smaller countries (which were under some domination or empire), that they have a doveish nature, because they had still fought for their rights. Also lot of people had records (Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, etc.) acquired by under-the-counter This was also form like to know foreign culture. Informations about Hippies also came through the consanquinity in the west, from smuggled magazines or from european radio stations which were forbidden and sequentially the weves were jamed. And how it started ? I guess that a lot of changes were an outcome of acts, ideas....nothing have only one grate. There were a lot of strobes. Though the Hippie movement in Czechoslovakia was different from the movements in the west Europe, also it wasn´t the same like in the Poland, or the other countries in Soviet Union. The first hairy groups came in the half of 60´s. It was an age of slow process of political and cultural liberation. The peak of events was The Prague Spring in 1968. The young started to participate in communities, had a fun, made a rag-days, demonstrations, the first rock clubs were open. They dissented with behavior and started to be cumbersome for government. In the streets were a lot of battles between beatnics, hippies (on one side) and the policmen (on the other side). But there are lot of interesting stories, history moments, though i don´t know some literacy, books, only articles in native language. Maybe a will write one
Hey, and there was also one escapade Some people managed to show Allen Ginsberg to Czechoslovakia in the 60´s to one rag-day, but government bring a charge against him from gayness and then quickly ,,show out" him.
TERRA, Terra is an astronomical name for: EARTH. We live on Terra Firma. In 1905, my grandparents, from my father's side, came to America (by ship) from: Vilnius, Lithuania. Life under Czarist Russian was difficult, so they came to a better life in America, which they worked hard to achieve and got. They spoke Russian and English, except my grandmother learned little English. They had many children (one of whom is my dad), who grew up and married mostly friendly Polish people (one Ukrainian, however). There is a sizable Polish population in the Detroit Metro area, with a Polish Cultural center, and many fine Polish grocery stores, with very delicious foods! My dad's real last name was: CHODKIEWICZ, but he changed our last name to a shorter, English version, so us kids could write and say it easier, in school. Since my grandparents came from Vilnius, Lithuania, and had the last name: CHODKIEWICZ, we're probably related to the famous Polish-Lithuanian military commander, Field (Commander-in-Chief) Hetman and Grand Hetman - JAN KAROL CHODKIEWICZ. Wikipedia has a nice article on JAN KAROL CHODKIEWICZ and shows the Nobel Family CHODKIEWICZ "Coat-of-Arms". See LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Karol_Chodkiewicz. You can also do an internet search on: JAN KAROL CHODKIEWICZ. He was born in Vilnius (1560), died on September 24, 1621 (in Chocim Castle) and was considered "one of the most prominent 17th Century Noblemen of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth"! He was very successful (even against great odds) in his battles defending Poland and Lithuania, against the invading Turks, Swedes and Russians. Anyone in Lithuania know about him and his endeavors? Any information would be appreciated! Unfortunately, I've never been to Lithuania, but I'd love to go for a visit, so I don't know much about Lithuanian hippies. The hippie life in Michigan was fun! Ann Arbor, Michigan is similar to San Francisco, California, and is still very liberal and hip! Ann Arbor has just a $50 fine for marijuana use (IN THE CITY LIMITS only!) The University of Michigan is STATE PROPERTY. John Sinclair (ex-manager of the Detroit music group MC5, ex-head of the White Panthers, famous beatnik warrior poet and jazz enthusiast) was a 60's ICON (in Ann Arbor, Michigan), who's marijuana arrest started the ANNUAL HASH BASH (in Ann Arbor, Michigan (U of M "diag"), still going on, to this day)! I've seen JOHN SINCLAIR there (Monroe Street Fair-Block Party/Ann Arbor, MI) in person, with the Flint, Michigan band GLOWB, reciting his poetry! JOHN LENNON devoted a song to JOHN SINCLAIR, entitled simply: JOHN SINCLAIR and ABBIE HOFMANN talked about the plight of JOHN SINCLAIR on the stage of WOODSTOCK (1969). Today, JOHN SINCLAIR is living in Amsterdam, Holland and attends the fabled CANNABIS CUP. He still visits Michigan, mostly in Flint (his birth place). I wish the hippie movement was more free in 60's/70's Russian-occupied Lithuania, as it was in Michigan (especially by Ann Arbor, Michigan), but that's why my Lithuanian grandparents came to America, i.e. for more freedom and a better lifestyle. Russia doesn't tolerate dissidents too well. Now, Lithuania is independent and they have an excellant basketball team! My sister visited a LITHUANIAN CULTURAL CENTER/MUSEUM, in CHICAGO, ILLINOIS and brought me a catalog of LITHUANIAN goodies. Take care Terra! Peace, love and understanding
well I know both books... I found steal this book in a library here in Italy side by side with a book about the practice of torture by the CIA. (i struggled with the temptation to steal both books) guess what happens if you try and order THAT in the USA. cant figure out what's so evil in The Catcher in The Rye ("young Holden" in the italian version). What you say is appauling. are You really fucked up so bad in the US about freedom of speech and civil rights? did I understand right? they want to know who buys certain "forbidden" books ? patriot act?
not intentionally, i was just talking abot things on top of my head. i'm not from eastern europe, yep i'm a commie , i'm not feeling offended in any way nor i want to fight here and'i'm ready to discuss about everything you like, so let's start. peace, Stefano
