Lithuanian communities celebrate traditional Žolinės festivities

Various traditional Žolinės celebrations were held in Lithuania, focusing on community, nature, and cultural heritage.

In Šventupė, a women-focused picnic titled ‘Svečiuose pas ponią Juliją’ featured poetry, music, and art. The event included an exhibition of paintings by Kristina Darulienė and creative workshops where participants used herbs to create themed artworks. Attendees shared garden-grown food and homemade kvass.

In the village of Žukai, the Žolinės festivities were dedicated to commemorating the legacy of Bishop Motiejaus Kazimiero Valančius. The celebration included a literary exhibition titled ‘Valančiaus atgajos puslapiuose…’ at the Žukai branch of the Vydūnas Public Library. Local officials, including Pagėgiai Mayor Vaidas Bendaravičius, attended the events. Children participated in creative activities, such as decorating T-shirts with characters from Valančius’s literary works, while discussions focused on the values of goodness and responsibility found in his writings.