Heraldry. The coat of arms of Sudeikiai features three red fishes (vendaces) with silver eyes in a silver background. Its author is the artist Vida Navikienė. The coat of arms was approved by the decree No. 1700 of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, signed on 18 March 2002.
History. Sudeikiai is a town in Utena district (population — about 450), located on the southern shore of Lake Alaušas (1060 ha), 12 km north-east of Utena. It is the largest settlement and centre of the elderate of the same name. Being a resort, Sudeikiai attracts tourists with its wonderful nature and the beautiful Lake Alaušas. In total there are 22 lakes in the elderate.
The origin of Sudeikiai town is related to Bikuškis manor, established in the 17th c. The manor belonged to Radziwiłł family, later — Trakai Voivode Tadas Oginskis, in the 18th c. — Prošinskiai family. Thanks to them, on 7 June 1779 the Grand Duke Stanisław August Poniatowski granted Sudeikiai the privilege of Wednesday markets and a two-week fair in October. The reason for the privilege was the establishment of Sudeikiai town.
After the wooden church of Bikuškis manor burned down, Kazlas, the owner of Degsnys and Jotaučiai manors, gave the new parish two voloks of land and funded the construction of the new church. The brick Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in the late 18th c. and became the centre of the town. In 1820 the population of the town was 168.
In 1863 Sudeikiai was touched by the events of the national uprising as well. The rebels vigorously fought Russian Tsarist administration bodies. On 14 November 1863 a squad of 40 rebels destroyed the documents of the Town’s council. In the late 19th c. Sudeikiai townspeople attempted to resist the oppression of the Russian Tsarist government and local manor owners.
In the early 19th c. the town had a parish school and, as of 1866, an official state primary school. The school continued to operate after the restoration of independence and in 1935 was moved to a new building. There also was a post office, a milk skimming station, several shops, workshops, etc. The first organisation to be established in the town was Pavasaris Lithuanian Catholic Youth Union. They used to organise public lectures and performances. Later, P. Adamanis initiated the establishment of the Riflemen’s Union and the Young Farmers.
Sudeikiai was the centre of the volost from the mid. 19th to mid. 20th c. After the town lost its status as the centre of the volost, many people separated their homesteads or moved out altogether. Since the soil around Sudeikiai was poor, farmers had a difficult time surviving.
Many found salvation in the fish caught from the lake. Lake Alaušas was full of vendace that people used to conserve in salt. There is a theory that this was how the town got its name of Sudeikiai (Lith. sūdyti means “to add salt”).
Today Sudeikiai is a popular tourism and entertainment destination in Utena region. The shore of Lake Alaušas features recreation zones, outdoor fitness equipment, playfields, pedestrian trails and aesthetic environment, attracting people not only from all over Lithuania, but also other countries. Convenient location, beautiful nature and Lake Alaušas contributed to Sudeikiai rural tourism development.
Legends and stories tell about numerous mounds and other archaeological monuments in the area. All these stories were collected and published in a book Utenos krašto padavimai ir legendos (Legends and Tales from Utena Region) by L. Buičenkienė, a teacher working in Utena district.
Every July people from Sudeikia that have scattered all over Lithuania, return to their native town for St Elisabeth’s Feast, which echoes with church organs and singing voices of the locals and people from the entire region.
Banga Children’s and Youth Festival in Sudeikiai
Banga Festival is one of the most attractive cultural events and the only of its kind in Utena district. The children’s and youth creative festival, taking place for the 15th time, gathers children’s and youth performers from various towns and cities in Lithuania and abroad.
The festival takes place for three days, uniting people not only in song, but also lectures and discussions on ecology and music. During this time performers can not only get to know each other, improve their communication skills, enrich their knowledge, refine their artistic and aesthetic tastes, share experience and spend some productive leisure time, but also get to know the local landscape and talk to famous folklorists, naturalists, artists and musicians.
Banga Festival also features various educational programmes. One of them is the environmental education — lessons of rational use of the natural resources in the green environment of Lake Alaušas. The purpose of this programme is to raise environmental awareness in youth.
During the event the knowledge of nature is related with practical use of the natural resources. The participants learn to understand nature and use what it has to offer. They are introduced to ways of using plants and all participants can try their hand at dyeing fabrics with plant dyes. Here everyone can get into the role of a nature-loving artist, cherishing national traditions and being rational about the use of natural resources by unleashing their creativity and dyeing their fabrics with all kinds of patterns.
The interaction of culture, environmental protection and history creates an opportunity for all participants of the festival to find something very dear and precious. Perhaps, something slightly forgotten, coming from the grandparents’ tales or customs. What is really important is that the event unites several generations, ensuring the continuation of traditions and experience. What could be better? Natural laws say that if you love and protect nature, it will reward you with beauty and health.
The participants of the festival can also enjoy lectures-concerts of professional musicians. Opening concerts often take place at Sudeikiai church, featuring classical, popular and ethnic music. The audience is also invited to get to know various musical instruments in open air.
The last day of the festival is crowned with the final concert on the shore of Lake Alaušas. The concert features all participants of the festival — children, teenagers and youth bands play their music to the members of Sudeikiai community, guests of the festival, tourists and local people.
Meaningful and productive leisure time reduces children and youth crime. The 15th Children’s and Youth Creative Festival Banga 2016 is not only about rehearsals, concerts, lectures, discussions, exhibitions, but also about the development of aesthetic, environmental-friendly, cultural and artistic needs. It is also about the promotion of Utena region in Lithuania and beyond, expanding one’s world-view and fostering love and respect for one’s native lands.
