Autumn equinox and Baltic unity day festival in Kernavė

AUTUMN EQUINOX AND BALTIC UNITY DAY FESTIVAL

2024 09 20, Kernavė Hillforts 

Day equals night - night equals day. As the duration of the sun's shine in the firmament shortens, we'll go down again in the circle of years... Traditionally, on Friday, 20 September, we invite you to the mystic hillforts of Kernavė to enjoy a spectacular celebration of the Autumnal Equinox and the unity of the Balts to mark the astronomical transformation of nature and to recall, through a symbolic experience, the importance of the unification of the Baltic tribes.

We will open the gates to the event with a hike "Kernavė Sanctuaries", where together with Klaipėda University archaeologist and sanctuary researcher Vykintas Vaitkevičius, we will set off for Kriveikiškis, which is associated with stories about the last supreme priest of Lithuania, Kriviu Krivaitis. Thunder, Kriviu Krivaitis and Pajauta - this is the cycle of Kernavė myths, whose origins date back to the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The hike will cover a distance of 5 km and three legendary places: the Aukuras Mountain, Kriveikiškis and Pajauta Valley. The duration of the hike is about 2 hours (from 17.30), pre-registration is required and will be announced soon.

From 19.00 Visitors will be invited to make and decorate impressive crowns to mark the end of autumn works, participate in experiential educational programmes such as "The Rite of the Equinox" (VšĮ "Vikingų kaimas"), "The Old Brewery" (Artūras Masiliauskas), meet the unexpected spookiness in "The Hiding Places of Mythical Creatures" (Kotryna Zylė), pour natural wax candles or even shake the future (Loreta Lichtarovičienė). There will also be an interactive exposition of armour and weapons presenting the "Battle of the Sun" (by the historical reconstruction club "Hospitaliers' Order"), etc.

The festive evening will echo with the rhythms of battles  - the performance "Battle of the Sun" (multi-instrumentalist DAUMANTAS LUKOŠIŪNAS and the historical reconstruction club "Hospitaliers' Order") will open the trail to the hillforts for the folklore groups, the fire-music interplay/concert SUTARTINIŲ SUKINYS symbolising the unity and the respect for ancestors. The equinox fire and unity altar fire will be lit with GEDIMINAS ŽILIS and folklore ensembles. The main accents of this surprisingly diverse event will be the meeting of light and darkness, this world and the next, the mysteries of fire, music and light, and the deep immersion of all of these actions in music, leaving a hopeful anticipation of the spring equinox.

The culmination of the evening will be a concert by GABRIELĖ VILKICKYTĖ and her band, where the sounds of music will be intertwined with the flames of fire and the experience of lights that will be created throughout the evening. The impression will be strengthened by light art installations and the lighting of the sculptures Į DAUSAS by the sculptor HENRIKAS ORAKAUSKAS from Kernavė.

As darkness overcomes the light, the programme will theatrically open the gates to the world of the spirits, inviting the audience to experience and learn about "The souls that roam in the Underworld", where the audience will be guided through a magical and sometimes terrifying otherworld (LABAS theatre).

The party will end with a night of dancing!

The legendary wooden chapel of Kernavė will host the art installation "The Rustle of the Equinox Gardens" (by Loreta Lichtarovičienė). There will also be concerts by folklore ensembles.

Program:

17.30-19.15 Hike KERNAVĖ SANCTUARIES (led by Prof. Vykintas Vaitkevičius)

19.00-24.00 Installation LYGIADIENIO SODŲ KUŽDESIAI (author Loreta Lichtarovičienė). Kernavė Wooden Chapel

19.00-23.00 Educational space MILKY WAY: "The crowns of the end of the year" - ARTyn, "The ceremonial feasts of the equinox" - VIKINGŲ KAIMAS, "The hiding places of mythical creatures" - Kotryna Zylė, "The old brewery" - Artūras Masiliauskas, "The casting of candles and spells" - Loreta Lichtarovičienė

19.30 Performance SAULĖS MŪŠIS (performed by multi-instrumentalist Daumantas Lukošiūnas and the military club "Hospitalierių ordinas")

20.00 Fire and Music Convocation between Hillforts / concert SUTARTINIŲ SUKINYS (folklore ensembles MEDGRINDA, TRYS KETURIOSE, RATILIO, LAUKIS (LT), DELVE (LV))

20.40 Pagan ceremony and unity altar fire (led by Vaidila GEDIMINAS ŽILYS, DELVE)

21.00 GABRIELĖ VILKICKYTĖ and band

21.50 Lighting of the sculpture Į DAUSAS

22.00 Mythological performance "About souls wandering on earth" (LABAS Theatre)

23.00-24.00 Night Dance

Sculpture and light art installations (sculptor HENRIKAS ORAKAUSKAS, light artist ARVYDAS BUINAUSKAS)

Tickets can be purchased here 

Free entrance for children under 16.