the kaziuko mugė

Labas visiems,

Easter is not far away anymore and with that also the traditions for that event slowly get started. Last week the so called ‘Kaziuko Mugė’ took place, a market that is traditionally happening this few weeks before Easter in Lithuania. Our ‘Panevėžio Šviesos Specialioji Ugdymo Centras’ organized its own Kaziuko Mugė in the school’s hallways. That meant a very special and lovely day for all the children and youths. Preparations started already in the first lesson when every class set up their tables for selling the crafts they did the last few weeks and months in their lessons and afternoon activities. You could find the most different things on those tables, from Easter cards over ceramic bowls to bookmarks, all self-made by the kids. How those things were sold depended on the classes themselves. Some things could be bought with paper money that every pupil got before the market really started. Some things you had to buy for real money that would be saved for the classes. The market itself got really lively when it started. Everybody was looking at what the other classes had to sell and a lot of kids were proudly showing the things they had bought. Still while the market was going on my favourite part of the event happened: the cake competition :) From every class one child brought a cake or something similar from home as a contribution for the competition, Laia and me had also baked one the day before. I think I’ve never before in my life eaten so much different cake. But I can tell you, it was all SO good :p In the end the cakes got nominations in different categories about its looks, taste and so on. Laia’s and mine got nominated for the best taste, the certificate for that is now decorating our kitchen ;)

After the cake competition the market ended pretty much. At that time two quizzes happened, one time with competitors from developmental classes and one time for the pupils from the special classes. I did not understand all the questions but I think they were pretty much all about the time around Easter and all the traditions happening then. The winners got awarded of course with a certificate and small prizes. 

 some of the proud sellers at the school's market

Laia's and my cake :p

 

Besides our school also the youth day care centre in which Leslie, Olivia, Marie and Javi work, did their own Kaziuko Mugė. We got the chance to look at it for a short time and I can tell you I was very impressed. It was the very first time that I had been to the youth day care centre so it was quite exciting for me. I met a lot of the people working there, some of them already knew my name to my surprise and some were very excited to finally meet me. I got the impression that they’re all very happy there and that they enjoy the time they spend at the day care centre. Of course we also looked at all the things they had to sell and I could have bought all of it. The people there had made so many pretty and creative things, from ceramics over decorative glasses to jewellery. In the end I could not leave without buying some things because I liked them so much. I think the youth day care centre also has to be a really good place to spend an EVS, as comfortable as I felt there immediately I can imagine that the others are really having a good time working there.

Together with Fine, Javi from the youth day care centre and Anthony, a volunteer from France who had just recently come to Panevėžys, I also went to Vilnius to look at the real Kaziuko Mugė happening there. We had been to markets in Lithuania before and I had won the impression that they’re a quite usual thing here. But the Kaziuko Mugė still sort of impressed me. It was for sure the biggest market I had seen so far in Lithuania and we ended up spending hours of time there. You could find the things that I think are pretty typical for those markets like woollen clothes, wooden cutlery and plates or homemade honey, meat, cheese and other food. But besides that there were also single stands that sold really nice and special things and again I found myself in need of buying all of it. Which I could not of course. Nevertheless we all got some nice things as presents for friends and family or simply for ourselves :) Besides the market there was also a parade happening at the Kaziuko Mugė in which a lot of traditional Lithuanian groups took part. We got to see some really impressive costumes and wagons those groups had prepared which were really nice to look at. 

at the Kaziuko Mugė in Vilnius :)

 

I really enjoyed my time at the market and also I liked experiencing this part of Lithuanian tradition. I’m curious what’ll furthermore happen around Easter here and I’m already looking forward to getting to know more of those traditions. For now I wish you all the best and a great week, I will have one, so much I can tell you. Tomorrow Fine and me will start in our Mid Term Training and I’m sure we will have A LOT to tell you about it as soon as we are back :)

Iki pasimatymo,

Monika