The tradition of Žolinė feast day celebration in Krekenava

In the old, traditional rural community, Žolinė (from the word “žolynas” – herbaceous plants) marked the celebration of plant maturity. On this day farmers would express their gratitude for the harvest, make a feast, and visit each other. With the arrival of Christianity, Žolinė was merged and identified with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary day. The importance, sacredness, and continuity of the long-term tradition of this celebration in the Aukštaitija region is reflected in the ceremony of the great feast day of Žolinė in Krekenava, dating back to the end of the 15th century. It is held from the 14th to the 21st of August in Krekenava Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and its access, and it is visited by thousands of people each year.

For Krekenava residents, Žolinė is a celebration of recommencement, and it also is an opportunity for family and friends to gather together, organise a fair, and taste the delicious end-of-the-summer food. Most of the parishioners contribute to the celebration through labour or charity work, such as herb wreath weaving, church and churchyard decoration, procession supervision, and pilgrim lodging. The churchgoers are particularly attracted to the painting of the miraculous Virgin Mary with Child that has a great historical and artistic value. To pay honour to the painting, the citizens of Krekenava have built and fostered their traditions for centuries – the icon is decorated with votive offerings, people pray and crawl on their knees around it.

Another ancient custom that the parishioners revived after the restoration of Independence and continue fostering to this day is making herb and wild flower bouquets as well as weaving wreaths and symbolic gates from plants. People believe that the bouquets, sanctified during the church service and containing plants of different symbolic meanings, have a protective power. They are respectfully placed at home and are believed to prevent misfortunes. Before Easter they are regardfully burned together with the Easter palm.

The parishioners of Krekenava enthusiastically support and continue the tradition of the Žolinė feast day celebration. They encourage young people to participate in the celebration, and they also bring together volunteers and wreath weavers from Krekenava and nearby places into a close community.

Submitter – the parish community of Krekenava Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, 2020

Traditions bearers – the parish community of Krekenava Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Krekenava Center for Pilgrims