The traditional St Casimir Fair, or Kaziuko mugė, in Vilnius started on Friday, March 3. The annual folk arts and crafts fair, which pays tribute to the country’s patron Saint Casimir, dates back to the 17th century. Nowadays, the 3-day event attracts artists and craftspeople from across the region. This year, commemorating the city’s 700th anniversary, a 10-metre high installation of 700 Vilnius Easter palms or “verbos” was erected in Cathedral Square. It was dismantled on Sunday, March 5, and the individual dried flower arrangements were distributed to festival participants. The most artistic ones were auctioned off to raise funds for the organization “Our Hearts and Hands for Ukraine”.
According to Renaldas Gražis, one of the fair organizers, the installation was meant to commemorate the anniversary and also contribute to supporting Ukraine.
“In ancient times, it was believed that Easter palms protect homes from thunderstorms and the earth from rodents and drought,” Gražys said. Starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, the Easter palms of this installation were distributed to fair visitors “to protect their homes and the whole country from the ‘rodents’ that spread disasters.” A special auction also featured 30 designer Easter palms with wishes from well-known Lithuanian public figures. The funds raised will go to the organization Our Heart and Hands – for Ukraine.
This year, the St Casimir Fair also featured a Ukrainian crafts village. According to the organizers, this year’s fair featured more than 500 craftspeople and 400 food producers.
The fair has deep roots in Lithuanian history. It has evolved from processions honouring St. Casimir, which began in 1604. The three-day event includes crafters and artists displaying and selling their wares, as well as the traditional Vilnius verbos Food, music, dancing, singing and plays were available throughout the festival.
The young prince Casimir (1458-1484) after whom the fair is named, is a legendary figure in the history of Vilnius. More than one miracle occurred by his gravesite in Vilnius Cathedral. As a result he was declared “Blessed” in 1501, and canonized in 1602 by Pope Clement VIII.
In 1636, Pope Urban III declared St. Casimir the patron saint of Lithuania. His annual commemoration on March 4, the date of his death, became a tradition, with processions, music, food and religious symbols. In 1827 merchants were given permission to hold a market with booths in Cathedral Square for three days.
A traditional food at St. Casimir’s Fair has always been riestainiai, or bagels. Also popular are honey cakes and heart-shaped gingerbread cookies, to be given to friends and sweethearts. Since ancient times, art students sell decorations and post cards, wood-carvers prepare for this market creating various traditional figures all winter.
Besides the concerts in Cathedral Square and at Vilnius City Hall, wandering musicians provided music throughout the Old Town all weekend. In all there were over 500 artists selling their work and 400 booths offering food.
