Daukanto Square hosts many of Lithuania’s major flag-raising ceremonies during Statehood Day celebrations.
The square is in Vilnius, beside the Presidential Palace in the historic centre of the Lithuanian capital. It is named after Simonas Daukantas, a 19th-century Lithuanian historian and writer who helped promote Lithuanian national identity. Its setting makes it an important location for official national ceremonies.
Lithuania’s Statehood Day is observed on 6 July. The date commemorates the coronation in 1253 of Mindaugas, the first and only king of Lithuania. Modern celebrations include flag ceremonies, concerts, public gatherings, and the singing of the national anthem at the same time around the world.
Daukanto Square is not Lithuania’s only ceremonial space. Cathedral Square, nearby, is also used for public events, while Lukiškės Square has particular importance in modern civic life. The presidential setting is what makes Daukanto Square especially associated with state ceremonies.