Waiting for Christmas. This wonderful feeling, familiar to all of us from the days when we took our first steps holding the hand of mom or dad. This feeling, encoded in our DNA, is passed on to our children and grandchildren. We share this feeling with our relatives, friends and colleagues. Our interview with Dalė Maskoliūnienė, a long-time employee of MRU, organizer of events, leader of dance groups, is not accidental, because she is a person who can be safely called the preserver and promoter of the traditions of MRU. This short interview with D. Maskoliūnienė is about the traditions of the University, Christmas and other warm memories.

You have been working at the University for many years, you are its true soul, its memory bearer - could you share how your journey at MRU began? What was the beginning? What was MRU like at that time?

I have been working at the University for over 30 years. At that time, MRU was looking for a dance director and a colleague offered me the job. It was very interesting to work - we had over 100 students dancing in the first student dance groups and we also started a concert group.

In 2007, on the initiative of the students, the folk dance group Skalsa was born.

You have organized many events at the university, could you share how Christmas events and traditions have evolved? Or has each year been delightfully predictable?

I would like to say that I wasn't the only one working on the events, I was just helping out. I had a great teacher - Agnė Vilkončiūtė. I'm always working in a team, at the moment I'm working with Simona Sakalauskienė. She is a great, creative and very responsible person. It's a pleasure to work in a good team. The first Christmas celebrations were Christmas Eve dinners with a long white tablecloth, Christmas Eve feasts and sacred music. We were all like a big family. Later, we celebrated Christmas at the university. During one of the festivities, the staff themselves brought the feasts, and we had very beautiful tables, ingeniously decorated and prepared with different dishes. We went to each other to taste and share recipes. Last year, we went to the Little Theatre to watch a play, followed by informal socializing. Every year is different.

Like every Christmas, this one is special and long-awaited. Tell us, what is the main idea behind this year's festive season at the university? What is our festive wish for the university community?

This year's chosen theme is sustainability. The winter forest, which symbolizes the nature, the authenticity, the magic. It invites us to pause for a moment, to think about the most important things - kindness to one another, the relationship between human and nature, and the anticipation and joy of Christmas.

Does the University follow its Christmas traditions? Which traditions make the community and yourself most happy?

The University tries to keep its Christmas traditions, but it wants to offer something new to the community every year. This year, for the first time, there will be a chocolate workshop.

I think that the most satisfying thing for the university community is being together, doing things together. It is especially fun to take part in kindness campaigns, when you can cheer up families living in poor areas far from the cities with the most necessary household items, and cheer up children with various gifts. One year, the university community helped children set up home libraries. Not only bookcases, but also desks, desk lamps, various tools and, of course, books were bought.

What makes Christmas special for you personally? What Christmas traditions does your family follow? Can you briefly share some warm Christmas memories from your childhood?

For me, Christmas is first and foremost a family celebration and the most beautiful time of the year, meeting the most precious people, warm hugs and communication. As a child, we always celebrated Christmas at home, with my mother's special baked goods, which were only cooked at Christmas, that was the most enjoyable. We still try to make those dishes for the Christmas table now.

What are your fondest memories of university? What adventures have you had here, or do you remember funny things from your colleagues' experiences?

There are many memories and I don't know which one I can single out (from one dancer losing the heel of her shoe during a performance in the courtyard to another dancer's clog splitting when dancing in the Šiauliai Arena...).

Christmas is about sharing kindness. What are some of the highlights or impressions of the past year at the university that you would like to share?

First of all, I'm happy about the anniversary concerts of my groups: the ballroom dance group Bolero celebrated 30 years and the folk dance group Skalsa celebrated 15 years.

It is great to work together with colleagues whom you can always lean on, to train young people, to give them your knowledge, to reach artistic heights. I would also like to say a sincere thank you to the women of my team "SWITCH ON - MRU", whose enthusiasm gives me strength and energy.