Slightly off the beaten track, Vilnius is an unusual but very pleasant European capital. It is definitely worth a visit, not only because it is beautiful and architecturally impressive, but also because of its pagan traditions and celebrations.

Lithuania has a calendar full of festivals evoking its Pagan past. Lithuanian paganism was only recently re-established in 1967 and was officially recognised as a religion in Lithuania in 1992. The song, Romuva, is a neo-pagan hymn to nature and tradition. Here is a list of some events to put in your calendar if you are planning a trip to Lithuania…

Saint John: the Summer solstice

On June 23 and 24, pagan magic reawakens with the Saint John Festival. During these two nights, Lithuanian cities don't sleep as everyone is celebrating summer on the streets! Fireworks light up the skies as the whole country sing and dance to traditional songs which bid farewell to the cold and dark days of the winter!

This festival is full of pagan traditions, you'll see men walk over a fire for good health, luck and to ward off all evil.  Women collect the dew as a legend says it has healing powers, and, if you want to know about your future, you can even have your fortune read from flowers!

Blukis, the Winter solstice 

Another pagan festival is the winter solstice, which is celebrated in Vilnius with the Blukis festival. A log carried through the city is said to collect all the bad vibes and negative emotions accumulated by people throughout the year. The log is then taken to the square and set on fire to banish negative spirits and help the sunrise again.

Trakai Medieval Festival

The Medieval Festival is one of the most prestigious celebrations in Lithuania. Competitors from all over the world participate in a special medieval tournament for a title. If you want to get a taste of medieval lifestyle and traditions, head to the Trakai Peninsula Castle on midsummer days to enjoy an authentic, historic atmosphere. Trakai is transformed into a medieval city in this period, and the streets are full of markets, music, swords and traditional food from the Middle Ages!

The Kaziukas fair

This is a genuinely unmissable celebration if you are in the country during the first weekend of March. Invented to celebrate the end of winter, today Kaziukas fair is a riot of colour, bringing together craftsmen from all over Lithuania. During the weekend, the whole city centre is transformed into a big open-air market. Symbolic of rebirth after the long and cold winter, flowers are the theme of the fair where you can buy colourful sticks decorated with dried flowers and leaves. Tradition says that these local handicrafts have the power to protect life and can ward off disease. At the market, you can also buy beautiful traditional handmade baskets, wooden decorations as well as ceramics.

Ferries to Lithuania

Visit NetFerry and discover the ferry routes that serve Klaipeda in Lithuania. The Netferry booking site allows you to save your quote and confirm the ticket a few days later. Netferry always helps you find the boat or ferry to best suit your needs. Rates, times and ports of departure and arrival are just a few clicks away with Netferry.

Netferry: a sea of ferries