Promoters of Polish culture in Vilnius and their role in promoting Polishness in an independent Lithuania

Abstract

The regaining of independence by Lithuania brought the Polish national minority a significant improvement in terms of the possibility of developing their own culture. This was particularly influenced by the opening of borders, which allowed closer contacts with Poland and Poles scattered around the world. This contributed to the creation of new Polish organizations, and above all to the construction of the Polish Cultural Centre in Vilnius, which became a place of cultural meetings. These activities were favourable for maintaining and developing national awareness, preserving and passing on identity to future generations. A special role in this process was played by people who, with their hard work and actions, put a lot of effort into promoting their native language and culture. Thanks to their efforts, Polish culture in Lithuania survived and stood out from other national minorities in these areas. Everyone who met these extraordinary people on their way tried to follow them and take care of the beautiful Polish culture and, just like them, pass it on to their surroundings. It should be noted that there are factors that unite people who identify with one nation and culture. Certainly, for Poles living in the Republic of Lithuania such factors included language, religion, literature, national songs and dances. Therefore, the activity of Polish song and dance ensembles, amateur theatres, various associations and cultural institutions, which particularly cultivated Polish culture, and by passing it on to the next generations, protected them from denationalisation.