Black Ribbon Day

Signing of the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact on August 23, 1939On August 23, the flags of many Lithuanian homes were hoisted. This day is not on the list of public holidays and memorable dates. But for more than a decade, many Lithuanians have thus celebrated the Black Ribbon Day (a strip of matter is attached to the pole above the flag) - the next anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939.

Most Lithuanians regard this pact as one of the most tragic pages in their history. It was this collusion of dictators that led the Republic of Lithuania to lose its independence for half a century, but the freedom it wanted was regained.

Lithuanians, of course, will have to endure many difficulties on the way to European prosperity, but they overwhelmingly do not see and do not want to return to the socialist “paradise”.