D. Jakštaitė

The Assumption Day

The true spirit of this holiday is best felt in the Lithuanian village. Every church organizes celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15). The biggest celebrations take place in Pivašiūnai, in the Alytus region. Local people bring along flowers as well as wheat ears as a symbol of the new harvest. Assumption Day in Lithuania combines Christian and pagan Baltic traditions. On this day it is very important to be together in a community – this has been relevant since ancient times and still is relevant for modern Lithuanians.