We invite you to visit the book exhibition “Following 200 Years of Lithuanian Folk Songs”, on display on the third floor of the Kaunas Library. This exhibition is dedicated to the Year of Lithuanian Folk Songs, as 2025 has been officially declared, and commemorates the bicentennial of the first published collection of Lithuanian folk songs, compiled by Liudvikas Rėza in 1825.
Lithuanian folk songs are among the most vivid and enduring genres of folklore, preserving the worldview, lifestyle, values, and emotions of our ancestors. These songs accompanied people throughout life — from birth to death — and were sung during daily work and significant life events. Their uniqueness lies not only in their melodies or poetic expression, but also in their living connection to community, nature, and history. In honor of the 200th anniversary of the first Lithuanian folk song collection, the year 2025 has been declared the Year of Lithuanian Folk Songs in Lithuania. In 1825, Liudvikas Rėza published the first collection titled “Dainos, oder Littauische Volkslieder”, which also included a scholarly study on the nature and significance of the songs. This publication is considered the starting point of Lithuanian folklore studies and marks the beginning of a systematic approach to collecting and researching folk creativity.
Over the past two centuries, Lithuanian folk songs have become an inseparable part of our cultural heritage. Though they originated in rural village life, these songs remain relevant today — they are studied, performed, reinterpreted, and, most importantly, cherished.