House of Histories Kicks Off Family Weekend Season with Ainu Cultural Adventure

The House of Histories, a branch of the Lithuanian National Museum, is set to begin its "Family Weekends" summer program on June 7. The inaugural event is timed to coincide with Father's Day and will offer families an immersive experience into the unique culture of the Ainu people, an indigenous group from northern Japan.

This special "Ainu Weekend" will feature a full day of activities designed to introduce visitors to the Ainu's rich mythology, traditions, art, music, and cuisine. The program is inspired by the museum's exhibition, "Man Among Worlds," and aims to provide a blend of educational and creative experiences.

Simona Širvydaitė-Šliupienė, head of the House of Histories and curator of the exhibition, emphasized the museum's goal of fostering curiosity and meaningful shared experiences for families. "We want the museum to be a place for families where curiosity turns into shared and meaningful experiences – through creativity, discovery, and play," she stated. "The Ainu culture, with its deep connection to nature, mythology, symbols, and living traditions, is particularly conducive to this."

Attendees can look forward to hands-on activities such as learning to play the "mukkuri," a traditional Ainu musical instrument, and participating in manga drawing workshops. A culinary session will allow families to prepare a traditional Ainu dish, "imoshito," guided by a chef from the Japanese Embassy in Lithuania. The program also includes an educational session on Lithuanian mythical beings, exploring connections with Ainu culture, and guided tours of the "Man Among Worlds" exhibition, highlighting the life and traditions of the Ainu people and the story of Lithuanian explorer Bronislovas Pilsudskis.

Further enriching the weekend, visitors can explore the history and traditions of tattooing, particularly the unique practices of Ainu women, through a presentation by Giedrius Bardauskas, a tattoo artist and founder of the Tattoo Museum. Younger visitors will have the opportunity to create their own representations of Ainu spiritual beings, "kamuy."

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We want the museum to be a place for families where curiosity turns into shared and meaningful experiences – through creativity, discovery, and play. The Ainu culture, with its deep connection to nature, mythology, symbols, and living traditions, is particularly conducive to this.