Dainų Šventė

The "Dainų Šventė," or "Festival of Song," is an established Lithuanian tradition. Like the Folk Dance Festivals, the Festivals of Song occur at regular intervals, usually every four years. The history of the Festivals of Song dates to the 1920s. Today, the Festivals are modernized affairs; some even feature Lithuanian rappers.

During the years of Soviet occupation, the Displaced Persons maintained the custom of staging Festivals of Song while they lived abroad. The DPs living in Germany organized a Festival in 1948. The 1948 "Dainų Šventė" took place in Würzburg.

Würzburg, Germany, 1948. Mr. Irene's Dad—standing in the back, at the center—travels to the Dainų Šventė. Standing directly in front of Mr. Irene's Dad are his maternal Uncle, "Uncle D," and Uncle D's wife, Danutė. Ignas, the older brother of Mr. Irene's Dad, is at the far left.