| Abstract [eng] |
Every society has a lot of memory symbols that represent their past. One of such memory symbols is boroughs’ heraldry. The latter is a new, not previously investigated sauce of cultural and historical memory. The paper brought attention to the Northern region of Lithuania, today containing 22 boroughs having the heraldry established and approved by a procedure prescribed by law. The following boroughs of the region have coats of arms: Kruopiai, Papilė (Akmenė district); Kriukai, Skaistgirys (Joniškis district); Kražiai, Lioliai, Šaukėnai (Kelmė district); Klovainiai, Lygumai, Pašvitinys, Rozalimas, Žeimelis (Pakruojis district); Baisogala, Grinkiškis, Šaukotas, Šiaulėnai, Sidabravas (Radviliškis district); Gruzdžiai, Kairiai, Kužiai, Meškuičiai, Šakyna (Šiauliai district). According to the law of the administrative units and their boundaries of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, a borough is a compactly settled area having the population from 500 to 3000. More than half of the employable population work in industry, business, manufacturing and social infrastructure. Borough’s heraldry consists of its coat of arms, armorial seal and heraldic flag. The paper aims to analyse the formation and evolution of cultural and historical memory in the heraldry of Northern Lithuania’s boroughs. The study aims to analyse how many symbols of the boroughs’ coats of arms created in the end of 20th century – the beginning of the 21st century are acceptable and understandable for contemporary borough dwellers. The paper also draws attention to the role of political, social and cultural institutions in forming cultural and historical memory. The aim is to draw attention to the fact that the unwillingness or inability to develop a strong cultural memory, based on the history of the tradition of values, can lead to the strengthening of consumer society and cultural degradation. The paper analyses the material of population survey carried out in 22 boroughs of Northern Lithuania. In total 660 of the population were surveyed. In order to explore the heraldry of the boroughs of Northern Lithuania, Lithuanian Heraldry Commission documents have been used. The theme includes 9th decade of the 20th century – 2nd decade of the 21st century. The questionnaire survey showed that most residents of these boroughs can remember and explain the boroughs’ coat of arms where easily understood, memorable characters are depicted. These coats of arms are better recognized, well-known in the boroughs where they can be seen not only in their municipality buildings, but also in other places of the borough, such like school, museum, on souvenirs, books, etc. Creation of cultural memory in the boroughs is a matter of municipality for the most part. It is also influenced by library, school, and museum (if available). |
