A traditional Lithuanian folk crafts fair dating back to the beginning of the 17th century is now at its apogee at two
main Market places and in the down-town Vilnius.
As the fair was traditionally held on St. Casimir's Day on March 4, its
is
popularly referred to as Kaziukas Fair or Little Casimir's fair.
Today it is rather more like a festival of folk art and crafts, music
and
dance attracting tens of thousands of people and craftsmen from all over
the country.
Traditional palms [called "verbos", hence "Verbu Sekmadienis" - GK] made
of colorful dried flowers and herbs which believers take to church on
Palm
Sunday in Vilnius district are the fair's badge.
The Vilnius palms originate from a lily with which traditionally St.
Casimir is portrayed.
The son of the king of Poland and the Great Duchy of Lithuania, Casimir,
ruled in 15th century and was canonized and designated by the Vatican as
a patron saint of Lithuania.
Saint Casimir was different. He left his footsteps on the Lithuanian
soil, his body was buried in Vilnius where the people could visit him
and pray at his casket. Lithuanians believed that St. Casimir
understands their prayers and indeed answers them. Was he not the son of
a Lithuanian king? Did he not travel across Lithuania, did he not see
her people and hear their complaints?
St. Casimir was so cherished by Lithuanians that stories of his life and
miracles had gone beyond the church walls and spread through the
population, became tales and legends. The saintly prince's special
devotion to the Blessed Mother was also very dear to the Lithuanians
because Lithuania is Mary's Land, known for its many shrines dedicated
to her and sincere veneration. Especially the young were attracted to
St. Casimir's youth and high regard for chastity. On June 11, 1948 Pope
Pius XII named him the special patron of all Lithuanian youth. Thus, St.
Casimir became the patron of youth not only within Lithuania, but in all
the world's countries where Lithuanian young people reside.
St. Casimir was a true Lithuanian by birth. He is descended from the
famous and respected Gediminaitis clan. The great Lithuanian dukes
Kestutis, Algirdas, Vytautas the Great and others belonged to this
family. St. Casimir's father was Kazimieras Jogailaitis who ruled
Lithuania (later along with Poland) from 1447. His grandfather was
Jogaila and his grandmother, Jogaila's fourth wife, Sofija the duchess
of Alsenai (a pure-blooded Lithuanian) who grew up in the Vilnius
region.
Kazimieras Jogailaitis married the daughter of Emperor Albrecht II,
descended from the Hapsburg family. They had six sons and six daughters
(one of whom died very young). Casimir was the second son, born on
October 3, 1458. He was renowned for a life of great piety, good works
and virtue. Upon contracting tuberculosis, he died at the age of 25 on
March 4,1483 in Gardinas. He was buried in Vilnius.
Shortly after his death, people came in large numbers to visit the holy
prince's tomb and pray for intercession with God. His body was
associated with numerous miracles and blessings from God. The process
to canonize (declare a saint) St. Casimir was begun soon after his death in 1521,
but for various reasons was delayed until November 7,1602 when Pope Clement VIII
officially proclaimed St. Casimir's feast on the church calendar. It
was believed that Casimir had been canonized by Pope Leo X (before 1521)
and that Clement VIII merely officially confirmed the fact. His feast
day - March 4th - was the date of his death.
People appealed to their saint at times of various misfortunes. His
first miracle is considered to be his apparition in 1518 at the Dauguva
River during the war with Moscow. A large Russian army had assembled
and threatened the city of Polotsk. A rather small force of Lithuanians
stood to defend the city and fortress. The Lithuanians had to cross the
swollen Dauguva River. Unable to find other help, they prayed to the
saintly prince to intercede. St. Casimir is said to have appeared to
the Lithuanians astride a white horse, wearing a white cloak. He urged
the army to fight and rode first into the roaring river. The
Lithuanians followed his example, fought fiercely and defeated Moscow's
troops. The news of the prince's miraculous apparition and the victory
spread throughout the country.
The miracle was investigated by bishops of that time and confirmed as
authentic. The very fact that St. Casimir came to help in a battle
against Lithuania's eternal enemy Moscow elevated him even higher in the eyes of
the Lithuanians. The saint became a symbol of the fight against the
Russians and Russian Orthodoxy.
Such veneration, so closely linked to anti-Russian feelings, did not go
Unnoticed by Russia which often occupied Vilnius. Whenever the Russians
approached the city, St. Casimir's relics were hidden and taken outside
the city; after the danger had passed they were again returned to the
church. The Russians made every effort to prevent St. Casimir's
veneration, they banned his feast, but were unable to squash the
people's enthusiasm. Thousands gathered annually on March 4th to pray
at the tomb of their beloved saint.
The names and titles of Moscow's leaders have changed but it appears
Their opinion of this Lithuanian saint has remained constant. The last
time St. Casimir's casket was transferred from the Cathedral of Vilnius, it
was taken to the church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Antakalnis (a suburb
of Vilnius) in 1953. This is where it remains to this day.
The first church named after St. Casimir was built in Lithuania in the
middle or the end of the 16th century near Ukmerge. It was built by the
Jesuits. At approximately the same time, a church in the saint's honor
was built in Vilnius. In Lithuania there are some twelve churches named
for St. Casimir.
Respect and love is shown this Lithuanian saint not only in Lithuania
but outside her borders as well. Many churches are named after him.
His name was also given to a congregation of nuns established in 1907 in
Paterson, N.J. Some Lithuanian cities incorporated the saint's likeness
in their coat of arms (for example, Kretinga, Darsuniskis, Kvedarna,
etc.).
Wherever Lithuanians live in foreign lands and have parishes, we find
churches or at least chapels bearing St. Casimir's name. The first
Lithuanian
church in the U.S. was built in 1862 in Shenandoah, PA and named after
the saint. The parish was organized jointly by Lithuanians and Poles,
but the Lithuanians were later pushed out and the parish was left to the
Poles. St. Casimir, the patron saint of youth, is cherished by
Lithuanian young people both in Lithuania and abroad.
Various youth organizations - Ateitis, Scouts, Knights of LithuaniaĨave
Chosen him as their special patron.
For the celebration of St. Casimir's Day on March 4th, many pilgrims
came to Vilnius from various Lithuanian places. After services in the
cathedral, the people lingered for a while. This gave rise to the
so-called Kaziuko muge (Casimir's Fair).
Thousands of sellers, buyers and visitors came to these fairs. They
were held outdoors. The most typical Kaziuko muge merchandise was
Vilniaus verbos. These are various dried flowers and grasses braided
together into Typical Lithuanian designs and tied to short sticks; they
are taken to church on Palm Sunday and later used to decorate the home.
Another typical Kaziuko muge product or muginukas, was a heart- shaped
Honey cookie, decorated with colored sugar flowers, zig-zags, dots and
birds. Popular men's and women's names were written on the cookies.
People bought and gave them to selected loved ones. It was a custom to
bring some back for anyone who had to remain home.
For Lithuanians, March 4th is not only St. Casimir's Day but a national
holiday as well. When it is commemorated at home, the family can
discuss this popular Lithuanian saint, his miracles, life and piety.
For every member of the family a muginukas can be baked with the name
inscribed on a heart-shaped cookie decorated with colored sugar
designs. The cookies can be baked out of gingerbread dough or the
recipes included here.
Lithuanian Tradional Crafts Fair Reaches Apogee
Dateline: VILNIUS, Mar 04, BNS
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