Kaziuko Mugė (St. Casimir’s Fair)

Do you know why šv. Kazimieras (St. Casimir) is so important to Vilnius? His name is shared, and not by chance, by Kazimieras Jogailaitis – the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Being the second, younger son of Lithuania’s thenruler, he was the prospective heir to the throne. His true calling, however, lay elsewhere. Having renounced the temporal realm for the spiritual, the prince was eventually canonised as a saint. While Kaziuko Mugė (St. Casimir’s Fair) started as a commemorative event, over time it took on a unique life of its own. For the locals and visitors of Vilnius, it’s an occasion to celebrate the coming of spring, and to begin preparations for Easter. At the fair, you’ll always see hundreds of craftsmen, artisans, master chefs, and artists, offering a wide variety of delectable foods and unique items to decorate your home. Make sure not to leave the fair before you’ve gotten yourself one of each: a ringshaped roll “necklace”, a traditional “verba” (Easter palm), and some Kaziuko Širdies (St. Casimir’s Heart) cookies. Without these, Kaziuko Mugė ain’t Kaziuko Mugė at all!