Horse Bathing at the Anykščiai Naktigonė Festival
Naktigonė (night pasturing) was a living tradition in the Anykščiai region until the early 20th century. On summer and autumn nights, once the pastures had dried and the foals had grown, villagers would communally graze their horses and wash them in the river. In ancient times, bathing horses was not only a practical necessity but a ritual of deep significance; it was believed that water possessed a purifying, health-giving power.
Since 2012, the Anykščiai Regional Park, together with the Horse Museum and local stud farms, has revived this ancient custom based on testimonies from local tradition bearers. Held each August on the banks of the Šventoji River, the Anykščiai Naktigonė Festival attracts visitors with its picturesque horse bathing ritual—riders and the bravest participants enter the water alongside the horses. The bathing is carried out responsibly, in strict compliance with environmental protection requirements to safeguard the river ecosystem.
The festival programme offers a wide range of experiences that bring old horse‑herding and care practices back to life. Visitors observe demonstrations of horseshoeing, learn to groom and saddle horses, and participate in workshops on wreath‑making, herbal knowledge, wood carving, and traditional haystack building. Children enjoy the dedicated “Children’s Yard” or take rides in a carriage drawn by the horse of tradition bearer Jonas Arvydas. Folklore ensembles enrich the celebration with sutartinės (polyphonic songs) and night‑herding songs, later inviting everyone into lively dancing. As evening falls and the night‑herding bonfire is lit, conversations and songs continue long into the night. In favourable weather, riders follow the old custom of staying by the riverside meadows until dawn to watch over the horses.
Horse bathing at the Anykščiai Naktigonė Festival is a highly appealing event that harmoniously combines environmental stewardship, recreation, and community spirit. For participants, it is an opportunity to experience the sacred bond between humans and nature, to understand the special role of the horse in Lithuanian culture, and to connect with the worldview of the people of Anykščiai region.
Submission by Aukštaitija Protected Areas Directorate, 2025