Kaziuko mugė

Kaziuko mugė ( _pl. Kaziuk, _en. Kaziuk Fair) is a large annual Polish and Lithuanian folk arts and crafts fair dating to the beginning of the 17th century. It was originally held at the two main markets in Vilnius, Lithuania, as well as in the city streets. After World War II it is also held in many cities of Poland. [pl icon " [http://www.gdansk.pl/nasze-miasto,512,5773.html Wileńskie Kaziuki w Gdańsku] ", Gdańsk official website.] [pl icon " [http://miasta.gazeta.pl/poznan/1,36001,4978276.html Kaziuk Wileński w niedzielę w Poznaniu] ", Gazeta Wyborcza, Poznań.]

The fair is traditionally held on the Sunday nearest to St. Casimir's Day, March 4, the day Saint Casimir Jagiellon died. In Lithuanian, "Kaziukio mugė" means "Little Casimir's" Fair ("Kaziukas" is a diminutive of "Casimir"). Today, Kaziukas fair also features music and dance; it attracts tens of thousands of visitors and many craftsmen from all over the country as well as from neighbouring states such as Latvia, Russia, and Poland.

Location

The pavilions of the fair occupy streets and squares in the Old Town of Vilnius. They start in Gediminas Avenue, traverse the Cathedral Square, and branch into Pilies Street, B. Radvilaitės Street, passing St. Anne's Church and the Orthodox Cathedral of the Theotokos, and into the so-called Tymas' Quarter on the left bank of Vilnia River near Užupis.

In recent years the fair has also been held in Kaunas at the "Laisvės alėja" and Town Hall Square. Similar festivals are also held in Hrodna, Belarus, the city where St. Casimir died, as well as in some cities in Poland.

Features

The arts and crafts at the fair include hand-made goods from local craftsmen, such as apparel, knitted clothes, footwear, toys, utensils, metal craftings, souvenirs, and paintings. Foodstuffs such as rye bread, bagels, honey cookies, meat and diary products, natural honey, beer, and kvas are sold as well.

Traditional "palm" bouquets (called "verbos", hence "Verbų sekmadienis") are one of the fair's specialties. Made of colorful dried flowers and herbs, they are taken to churches on Palm Sunday. The shape of the "palms" resembles a lily, a flower with which St. Casimir is traditionally portrayed.

Another popular product at the fair is the "muginukas", an often heart-shaped honey cookie, decorated with colored sugar flowers, zig-zags, dots, and birds. Popular men's and women's names are written on the cookies. People buy them to give to their loved ones. It is a custom to bring some back for anyone who had to remain at home.

References

*lt icon [http://www.vilnius.lt/newvilniusweb/index.php/101/?itemID=85910] City of Vilnius Government

ee also

*St. Casimir