Last modified: 2024-04-06 by 
zachary harden
Keywords: lithuania | vilnius | užupis |
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Blue/Winter flag
image by
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
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Užupis is a neighborhood in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, largely
located in Vilnius' old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Užupis means "on
the other side of the river" in the Lithuanian language and refers to the Vilnia
River. The name Vilnius was derived from the Vilnia. The district has been
popular with artists for some time, and has been compared to Montmartre in Paris
due to its bohemian atmosphere. The district houses art galleries, artists'
workshops, and popular cafés. On April Fools Day, 1997, the district declared
itself an independent republic (The Republic of Užupis), replete with an army
of 12 personnel.
Užupis is quite small and isolated, being only about 148 acres (0.60 km2) in
size. On one side it is separated from the Old Town by the Vilnia River, on the
other there are steep hills, and on the third there is an industrial area built
under the Soviet rule. The first bridges across the river were built in the 16th
century, at which time the district's inhabitants were mostly Jewish.
In 1997, the residents of the area declared a Republic of Užupis, with its own
flag, currency, president, constitution, and an army (numbering approximately 17
men). They celebrate this independence annually on Užupis Day, which falls on
April 1st. Artistic endeavours are the main preoccupation of the Republic and
indeed the current President of the Republic of Užupis, Romas Lileikis, is
himself a poet, musician, and film director. The first major initiative
undertaken by the Republic after its foundation was to build a monument for
Frank Zappa, in Vilnius.
Artūras Zuokas, a former mayor of Vilnius, lives in Užupis and frequently
takes part in the Republic's events.
It is unclear whether the statehood of the Republic, recognized by no
government, is intended to be serious, tongue-in-cheek, or a combination of
both. The decision to place Užupis Day on April 1 (April Fools' Day) may not be
coincidental.
The Constitution of the Republic of Užupis:
Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnelė, while the River Vilnelė
has the right to flow by everyone.
Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.
Everyone has the right to die, but it is not a duty.
Everyone has the right to make mistakes.
Everyone has the right to individuality.
Everyone has the right to love.
Everyone has the right to be not loved, but not necessarily.
Everyone has the right not to be distinguished and famous.
Everyone has the right to be idle.
Everyone has the right to love and take care of a cat.
Everyone has the right to look after a dog till one or the other dies.
A dog has the right to be a dog.
A cat is not obliged to love its master, but it must help him in difficult
times.
Everyone has the right to sometimes be unaware of his duties.
Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not a duty.
Everyone has the right to be happy.
Everyone has the right to be unhappy.
Everyone has the right to be silent.
Everyone has the right to have faith.
No one has the right to violence.
Everyone has the right to realize his negligibility and magnificence.
Everyone has the right to encroach upon eternity.
Everyone has the right to understand.
Everyone has the right to understand nothing.
Everyone has the right to be of various nationalities.
Everyone has the right to celebrate or not to celebrate his birthday.
Everyone shall remember his name.
Everyone may share what he possesses.
No-one can share what he does not possess.
Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.
Everyone is capable of independence.
Everyone is responsible for his freedom.
Everyone has the right to cry.
Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.
No-one has the right to make another person guilty.
Everyone has the right to be personal.
Everyone has the right to have no rights.
Everyone has the right to not be afraid.
Do not defeat.
Do not fight back.
Do not surrender.
The Flag of the Republic of Užupis:
The Republic of Užupis has four official national flags. They are always white.
In the center of the cloth with a colored logo is shown. The logo is blue or red
or yellow or green. Really dominated but in the streets of Vilnius, the blue
version of the flag.
Sources:
www.fotobankas.lt/.../id/133747/search/Užupis photo)
http://www.spiegel.de/reise/staedte/0,1518,329608,00.html (in German)
Jens Pattke, 23 August 2013
image by
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
Green/Spring version
image by
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
Yellow/Summer version
image by
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
Red/Autumn version
The flags with the logo in blue, green, yellow and red are intended
for use in winter, spring, summer and autumn, respectively. (Source)
While the winter flag may be used permanently during the year,
it is not uncommon to use all flags out of their seasons, including
joint use of two or more flags. (Source)
The flag ratio is 10:17; the logo is set off-center, closer to the
hoist and only slightly closer to the top. When the flag is
attached to the wall, the thumb must always point to the top.
When the flag is flown from a staff, the thumb is pointing to the fly. (Source)
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
Blue/Winter flag
image by
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
The logo has two variants, the charge upon the hand being either a
disc or a ring of unequal width. Both variants appear on all the
flags, although the one with the disc seems to be much more used; it
is not uncommon to see flags with both variants of the logo used
jointly, too. (Source)
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
Blue/Winter flag
image by
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
As part of the celebration of the Independence Day, the most honored
Užupean of the year cuts the hole in the flag which is hoisted at the
main flagstaff; the hole occupies the area of the disc or within the
outer diameter of the ring upon the hand palm; this symbolizes the
notion that Užupis cannot be appropriated by anyone [1, 2]. Only blue
flags have been documented to undergo this ritual [1, 2, 13, 14].
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
uzupis.gif)
image located by
Zachary Harden, 2 April 2024
