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Every year in April, Vilnius University turns into a real city of entertainment, where an
atmosphere of science, creativity and boundless enthusiasm reigns. It is Physicist's Day, one of the most popular and biggest student holidays in Lithuania.
This year, FiDi Lietuva, as it is also known, celebrated its 56th anniversary. Thousands of
people gathered in the university courtyard to watch enchanting shows, take part in exciting competitions and, of course, meet the main star of the festival - Dino Saurus, the dinosaur.
History and traditions
FiDi, or Physicist's Day, is a holiday for students of the Faculty of Physics
The University of Vilnius, which was first organized in 1969. In its original form, the idea of the holiday emerged as a way of active self-expression for young people and eventually turned into a school of creativity and activity for the students of the faculty, promoting their unity and mentoring. The initiators, who wanted their own holiday, separated from the mandatory events of the Komsomol and trade unions, allowed all members of the faculty community to join the idea.
As the student community is constantly changing, FiDi is becoming more diverse every
year. is becoming more diverse in its artistic expressions, technical solutions and management functions every year.
The move of the physics department provided an opportunity to
to demonstrate the importance of physicists by "burying" themselves in their own backyard. Since then, FiDi has grown into a real cultural event that attracts not only students and teachers but also guests from all over the country.
Physicist's Day, 1980 | Photo by Romualdas Bujvydas
"On that day, to the surprise of many passers-by, a colourful motorised column was winding through the streets of the capital, with an unprecedented prehistoric creature crawling in front of it. Mysterious letters flashed everywhere - FiDi" ("Vecherni Vesti", 1978, 19 April).
Unique atmosphere
FiDi is different from other student parties because of its special atmosphere. It combines serious scientific lectures and seminars with fun attractions, competitions and concerts. The festival features everything from giant chess and box castle-busting to fascinating scientific demonstrations and performances by talented musicians.
Photos from the FIDI website
Dino Saurus: the symbol of FiDi
The origins of the idea of creating a dinosaur remain mysterious, but Vilius Armonas notes that every year the FiDi march became more and more difficult. Despite the fact that the distance between the Faculty of Physics and the Faculty of Philology was short, students found original ways to get to the venue. This could be using old cars, rented trucks or staging performances.The main goal was to attract the attention of as many spectators as possible, and this was achieved thanks to the large and mobile dinosaur that became the central figure of the event.
"At that time, there was no theatrical procession through the city, so we received a lot of attention. However, we constantly had problems with permits. But, as they say, smart people know it's not allowed and don't do it, while fools try to do it, and sometimes they succeed," jokes Vilius.
Vilius Armonas, known as "fidis", is considered to be the creator of the first dinosaur that became the symbol of the Faculty of Physics. In 1978, he personally built this dinosaur, which was named Dino Saurus, and he still devotes time and attention to its maintenance. For 46 years, Vilius has been working hard to ensure that every festive march brings this famous attraction to the streets.
This 18-metre tall monster, made of metal, plywood and cardboard, is an 18-metre tall monster made of metal, plywood and cardboard that marches through the streets of Vilnius every year to apologise to a philologist for his actions when he ate her (according to legend). Dino Zaurus is not just a puppet, but a real technical masterpiece that impresses the audience with its size, movements and special effects every year.
The significance of the holiday
Physicist's Day is not just a fun holiday, it is also an important event that
of great importance to the students and teachers of the Faculty of Physics at Vilnius University. It is a day when they can be proud of their achievements, share their knowledge and enthusiasm with others, and just have fun together.