On 13 December, Utena Manor hosted the community-building event “Healthy and Joyful Christmas”, organised within the framework of the cross-border project LL-00091 “Digitalization of the historical path of Preili Castle and Utena Manor to promote the development of tourism services in cultural heritage sites of Latvia and Lithuania”.
The event brought together local residents, families, and visitors from project partner Preiļi for a full day dedicated to wellbeing, creativity, and mindful preparation for the Christmas season. The programme focused on strengthening community ties, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and highlighting the cultural heritage of Utena Manor and Preiļi Castle.
Throughout the day, participants enjoyed a wide range of health – and wellbeing-oriented activities, including a holiday aroma laboratory, forest-scented Christmas workshops, happiness amulet creation, dreamcatcher weaving, and health-focused lectures. A children’s activity zone ensured that families could take part together, while guests were invited to relax and connect over aromatic Christmas tea.
As part of the programme, visitors were invited to attend inspirational lectures by:
- Libertas Klimka, Ancient Advent Traditions
- Juratė Lapackaitė, Christmas Celebrations on a Plate
Creative workshops allowed participants to create personalised gifts and festive decorations for their homes. Activities included crafting home fragrances and personal aromas enhanced with olfactotherapy, wreath-making and decoration using natural forest materials, meditative dreamcatcher weaving transformed into protective amulets, and the creation of symbolic decorations inspired by ancient Baltic signs and messages.
The event was organised by the Utena Education Centre. The activities and creative workshops implemented within the event contributed to the achievement of the project’s objectives by promoting the sustainable development of Preiļi Castle and Utena Manor as cross-border cultural heritage sites, expanding their tourism service offer through innovative, educational, and visitor-engaging activities, and strengthening public awareness, accessibility, and cross-border cooperation in the field of cultural heritage preservation in Latvia and Lithuania.
