The Mojavos (May Prayers) of Šukionys Village

Mojavos – a communal tradition of daily prayers in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the month of May spread in Lithuania since 1898. The liturgy of the prayers, homogenized by the priest Antanas Baranauskas, is used and the prescribed hymns are sung. In the past, every village in Lithuania had houses where neighbors gathered to sing May carols, but now this form of folk piety is typically practiced in churches and much less often in homes. Šukionys is the only settlement in the Biržai district where Mojavos has been kept alive for more than 115 years and is still maintained at home by the villagers. Religious families preserved the integrity of the tradition and the most important elements of the May prayers: decorating the altar with flower garlands, reading litanies, singing prayers and hymns, holding chants evenings, feasting, and congratulating those celebrating their name days.

Preparations for the prayers are made in advance. The hosts install a homemade altar with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, adorn the house with posies of birch branches and flowers, place sacred candles, prepare benches, cut the grass, and clean the house. At an agreed time, usually in the evening after the completion of farmwork and housework, neighbors gather, usually 16-30 people - mostly women, a few men, and children. Four generations of believers participate in the prayers, led by a female member of the community who is an experienced leader of the May prayers. Together they pray and chant hymns in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, hoping for grace and intercession. Children and grandchildren, being in the singers’ presence from an early age, naturally learn the hymns of the worship of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the course of the liturgy.

The tradition of May prayers strengthens the sense of community of the residents of Šukionys and surrounding areas, provides emotional well-being, and mobilizes its residents for various social initiatives. They organize work parties and transportation of people with mobility issues as well as publish hymnals. Other local communities are inspired to follow the example of the Šukionys community and revive the Mojavos.

Submission by Šukionys community of Biržai district

Tradition bearers – the family of Alfonsas and Valė Bajoriūnas, Šukionys community