Jaunimo kultūrinė rezistencija sovietmečiu: žygeivių klubas „Ąžuolas”

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Jaunimas; Kultūrinė rezistencija; Sovietmetis; Žygeivis; Cultural resistance; The club of žygeiviai (Hikers); The soviet period; Youth.

ENThe club o f žygeiviai (Hikers) “Ąžuolas” (the Oak) and its activities are the main focus object o f the present article. One period o f this club is analysed, i.e. from the end o f 1960s till 1980, when Šarūnas Boruta was the leader. During this period, between thirty or fifty people were members of this club. They were very active people and most o f them took part not only in the movement o f žygeiviai, but also in the ethnic cultural, religious and political activities. The žygeiviai movement was a well-organised movement with well-defined goals that were formulated and presented in the documents o f the Punia PactmA the Tourists’ Statute (1966). The main idea of those documents was "N ot a single hike without an aim!” The Lithuanian name žygeivis’ was coined in 1968 to dissociate them from all the other tourists such as holidaymakers or excursionists. The group used to visit places which where important for the Lithuanian State and culture. They used to organise voluntary work to help maintain the old Lithuanian cultural heritage. They also were greatly interested in ethnic culture. People learnt about old folk customs and songs, tried to revive the celebration o f old Lithuanian feasts such as Midsummer Day (Rasos), All Soul’s Day (Vėlinės), Christmas, and Shrovetide. The third aim was physical training. The group used to go on long hikes on foot. They used to paddle canoes, go skiing in the winter and climb the mountains in the summer. “Ąžuolas” obeyed the rules, which were obligatory for every hiker. The principle of absolute abstinence was obtained in Šarūnas’ group. Žygeiviai also observed environmental principles; they never polluted nature but preserved it actively. The movement of Žygeiviai has enriched the life of the members of this group. Today most of them live the same life style and still travel with their children and grandchildren.It can be assumed that the model o f the club “Ąžuolas” reflects the model of other groups of Žygeiviai. The only differences between them are the main priorities of each group. This movement educated people both spiritually and physically. Žygeiviai knew not the soviet, but the ‘real’ Lithuania. They studied and showed the others how rich Lithuanian history and culture are. [From the publication]