Užgavėnės (‘Shrove Tuesday’) was joyfully celebrated in Lithuania on March 4th this year, bringing together communities in a lively and colorful festival. On this special occasion, the partners of the project LL-00055 “Language – a key for understanding your neighbour” (LingoKey) gathered for a vibrant cultural exchange event, blending tradition with the spirit of cross-border cooperation.
The celebration took place at Skaistgirys Gymnasium, where masked carnival-goers from Žagarė Gymnasium in Lithuania and Augstkalnes School in Latvia joined in the festivities. The air was filled with excitement as students and teachers immersed themselves in the Lithuanian age-old customs of Užgavėnės. They learned traditional Lithuanian festival songs, participated in folk dances, and played circle games, all while embracing the lighthearted mischief that defines this winter-farewell celebration.
The event was a spectacle of colors and characters – witches, devils, horses and a variety of other quirky costumed figures roamed the schoolyard, playfully scaring away winter and urging it to leave for good. The highlight of the celebration was the legendary battle between Kanapinis (the lean, springtime figure) and Lašininis (the plump, wintertime figure), symbolizing the eternal struggle between winter and spring. The enthusiastic crowd cheered and laughed as participants engaged in a friendly broom-riding race and a spirited tug-of-war, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Victorious competitors were rewarded with necklaces of traditional ring-shaped rolls, but the real surprise came when sweets suddenly rained down upon the crowd, delighting both children and adults alike. The celebration reached its climax as the effigy of Morė (an artificial woman representing winter) was set ablaze in a towering bonfire, marking the symbolic departure of the cold season.
No Užgavėnės celebration would be complete without a feast, and this event was no exception. Everyone indulged in stacks of golden pancakes drizzled with sweet jam, hearty fatty porridge and steaming cups of tea, enjoying the warmth of good company and shared traditions. And as the saying goes: And I was there, I tasted pancakes and porridge, my saliva dripping through my beard, but I had nothing in my mouth…
This joyful celebration not only upheld the rich cultural heritage of Užgavėnės but also strengthened the bonds between Lithuanian and Latvian students, demonstrating how language and tradition can bring communities together in meaningful and memorable ways.
