Lithuania adds Social Insurance, Ecology, and Hunters’ Days to commemorative list

Lithuania’s parliament has expanded the country’s list of commemorative days, adding Social Insurance Day, Ecology Day, and the Day of Saint Hubert, the patron saint of hunters, reports LRT.

The Seimas designated March 23 as Social Insurance Day, September 23 as Ecology Day, and November 3 as the Day of Saint Hubert. The vote saw 67 MPs in favor, four against, and 15 abstentions.

Social Security and Labour Minister Jūratė Zailskienė previously noted that social workers already unofficially mark March 23 as their professional holiday, as it was on this date in 1926 that President Aleksandras Stulginskis signed the State Social Insurance Board law.

The proposal to establish November 3 as the Day of Saint Hubert was put forward by social democrat Ilona Gelažnikienė, who argued that the day symbolises responsible, ethical hunting, respect for nature, and community spirit.

Bronis Ropė, a member of the “valstietis” (rural) party, registered the initiative to recognise September 23 as Ecology Day, stating it would serve as both a symbol and an educational reminder that nature conservation begins with daily decisions. He noted that the European Union has marked this date as Ecology Day since 2021.

Liberal MP Simonas Kairys opposed the addition, pointing out that September 23 is already observed in Lithuania as the Day of Remembrance for the Genocide of Lithuanian Jews. Meanwhile, democrat Kęstutis Mažeika noted that the date is also recognised in the Commemorative Days Law as International Sign Language Day. “Why didn’t you mention that? Many dates have multiple commemorations, and that is probably normal,” he said.

Prior to this update, the law included 99 commemorative days.