JONINES FESTIVAL!!! After an amazing afternoon exploring the castles of Trakai, I went with my dad and my relatives to the festival of St. John (Tuesday night festival, Wednesday was a state holiday). There was a lot of dainos singing - it was incredible to see and hear what I've been studying all year. There were bonfires until past midnight, and people gathered to sing, drink, and celebrate. Young unmarried women (that included me!) made wreaths of flowers - wading in the grass in flowers up to our wastes, picking and tying together flowers using long grasses. I was supposed to throw my wreath into the Neris River at midnight - but alas, we left when the thunder and rain began to break. I didn't want to throw mine into the water anyway - it was too pretty! John, I did it all in the name of you.
[Here] is a video from the festival - just one song of so many that were sung. At the end, my informants talk a bit about the meaning of this particular song.
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