05- 07 March, 2010

Kaziuko mugė (English: Kaziukas Fair) is a large annual 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. The fair is traditionally held on the Sunday nearest to St. Casimir’s Day, March 4, ( this year Kaziuko fair will be held 5 - 7 March) the day Saint Casimir Jagiellon died. In Lithuanian, Kaziuko 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 neighboring states such as Latvia, Russia, and Poland. The pavilions of the fair occupy streets and squares in the Old Town of Vilnius.

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