Revival of the Horse Ploughing Tradition in Lazdijai Region

In the Lazdijai region, the tradition of ploughing with horses, which has deep roots but has already disappeared in many parts of Lithuania, is being successfully revived. This method of cultivating the relatively infertile soils of Dzūkija region is practiced on small farms (there are about 20 of them), whose owners invest less in modern equipment and still use horsedrawn ploughs, cooperating with other farmers who practice traditional ploughing.

The revitalization of the tradition and the growth of the plougher community in the Lazdijai region was influenced by the yearly First Furrow Festival held in Veisiejai since 2000. During this festival, dozens of men, women, and even young people from Dzūkija and other regions of Lithuania compete for valuable prizes and the title of best plougher. The competition has brought ploughing with horses back into the everyday life of the residents of Lazdijai region. Every year, ploughers prepare and practice the traditional method of ploughing when working their own, neighbors’ and friends’ fields. In some families, the skills, technology, and ingenuity of ploughing are passed down from generation to generation. Ancient customs are followed: the first furrow in the fields is ploughed only when the weather warms up after St. George Celebration Jurginės (April 23rd) and only after the first thunder. As an offering to the earth and hoping for a good harvest, the plougher turns up the soil onto a couple of dyed eggs or onto a slice of bread.

A work gathering for ploughing fallow land held in the fall of 2023 became a community meeting of several generations of ploughers - neighbors and friends - encouraging them to share experiences in a natural environment and to pass on the tradition of ploughing with horses to the younger generation, who do not have horses and implements to revive ploughing skills. Autumn ploughing work gatherings, which are set to be held every year on the land of a different farmer, strengthen the community, and develop respect for work, people, and the tradition itself. During the work party, a field is ploughed with a horse and plough and then sown with rye. After work, at the dinner table, a loaf of bread is given to the initiator of the work gathering, and both the oldest and youngest plougher are honored with oak wreaths.

The revitalization of the tradition of ploughing with horses, supported by the society of Lazdijai region, raises the self-esteem of farmers and ploughers, and promotes sustainable and ecological farming, based on the old traditions of Lazdijai region, a cultural experience, and human communion with horses.

Submission by Lazdijai Culture Centre, Lazdijai Region Ploughers’ Community