The 23rd of June, known as Saint John’s Day, is the most important holiday in Lithuania.
It originates from the pagan celebration of the Midsummer night when during the shortest night of a year, unmarried people were asking their gods to help them find a husband or a wife. They were making and floating gallons, burning fire, and looking for the fern flower in celebration of the goddess called Kupala, who was believed to take care of courtship and love games.
Campfire celebration, dancing, and parting persist as nowadays Lithuanian’s are celebrating during many organized events based on these traditional ceremonies. The biggest one is taking place in Kernave, the first historical capital of Lithuania.
Images were shot from the 21st to 23rd of June 2019 in Vilnius and Kernave, Lithuania.
