Vanishing handicrafts in Zarasai district 

 

         Not only people who love music and songs live in the land of Zarasai but also skilled people who seek to preserve traditions of weaving and woodcarving, heritage of the so-called St. Petersburg harmonicas, are good at sewing patchworks and puppets, decoration of clothes. The craftsmen working here can teach you the things they know the best: make spoons, distaffs, different kitchen appliances, make household items and playful accessories and patchworks, weave the traditional Highland sash worn with the national costume and learn the weaving art. 

 

Traditional Crafts Association, Vytauto St. 1a/2a, Zarasai. Phones +370 385 51667, +370 615 92968. By early agreement, association of folk artists of Zarasai region and craftsmen participating in it will be presented. Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Woodsman Gediminas Kairys, Degučiai Village, Zarasai district. Phone  +370 686 61174. The craftsman carves spoons, masks and other original works from various types of wood. More . Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

An ecological clean beekeeping farm of Janina Milašienė, Pagrundai Village, Zarasai district. Phone +370 621 99194. Dozens of years the tasty and ecological clean honey is made at this farm. Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Inn “Prie bravoro“, Dusetos Village, Zarasai district. Phone +370 686 48890, e-mail: cizoalus@takas.lt, information . Travelling people will be able to know about a live beer with honey made in R. Čižas brewery, the little will be able to taste homemade kvass and delicious Lithuanian dishes. The inn organizes championships of crayfish several years. 

 

Adelė Tumėnienė, Zarasai. Phone +370 678 76147. A weaver of national costumes. The drapery is various: bedspreads, tablecloths and towels woven by different pattern techniques. Besides, she is a needlewoman, sash weaver, knitter and also likes crocheting Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Aldona Karpavičienė, Zarasai. Phone +370 385 52797. She has braided from straw “sodai“ for 20 years. Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Birutė Andrijauskienė, Zarasai. Phone +370 673 00341. The artist weaves bedspreads, towels, national costumes, and handbags, also knits wristlets. Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Pranas Savickas, Antalieptė Village, Zarasai district. Phone +370 385 57290. The artist has been engaged in wood carving already for 50 years. He makes crosses, koplytstulpiai (roadside pole chapels), sculptures, and domestic things. Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Raimundas Pupeikis, Zarasai. Phone +370 612 42581. The artist makes sculptures of different sizes as well as stogastulpiai (roadside roofed poles). Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Vytautas Kruopis, Zarasai. Phone +370 674 22103. He makes crosses (suns) and artistic domestic things. Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Saulius Savickas, Antalieptė Village. Phone +370 687 79846. He makes crosses, koplytstulpiai (roadside pole chapels), rūpintojėliai (crucifix sculptures), and other sculptures, as well as outdoor und indoor furniture. Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

Rimutė Vitaitė, Zarasai. Phone +370 615 92968. Weaves sashes typical to Aukštaitija Region, makes material dolls and little witches. Also, she focuses on weaving only national costumes – skirts in 2 and 8 harness patterns, waistcoats in 4 harness patterns, satin aprons, and headdresses for married women. Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

 

 

         Visitors will have the possibility to see the old mill – technical heritage object, participate in the process of milling flour, and after milling, in the house of educational crafts, to mix a pie, bake pancakes in the fireplace on hot coal, make a loaf of bread with their own hands. More www.slyninkosmalunas.lt

 

Phones: +370 686 23348, +370 687 59106

E-mail: vandensmalunas@gmail.com  

Visit necessary accord beforehand.

 

 

Traditional National Horse Race in Dusetos “Sartai“, Dusetos, Zarasai district. Phones +370 385 56135 (Dusetos eldership), +370 385 37183 (The Municipality of Zarasai district), +370 385 51667 (Zarasai Cultural Centre), e-mail: dusetos@zarasai.lt, kultura@zarasai.lt,  www.zarasai.lt

         Organizers of one of the most popular winter festivals in Lithuania understand  their responsibility – this race counts 210 years. Traditionally winter sports enthusiasts are invited to the race in Dusetos on the first Saturday of February. More.

 

Folklore festival “Zalvynė“, Zarasai. Phone +370 615 92968.

         Though the hilarious festival in the land of Sėliai (after the ancient Baltic tribe of Selonians). Started only in 2004, fun and good emotions are plenty. It’s plain truth that it is children and young people who should be trusted the mission to maintain the traditions of the nation. How one could not be happy seeing large groups of folklore companies striving to preserve the spirit Selonian culture.

 

Folklore festival “Žolinė“ (The Assumption), Zarasai. Phone +370 615 92968.

         The Assumption feast bells announce the end to the biggest event for farmers – rye harvesting. Following the service at Zarasai church, concerts of the amateurs from Lithuania and foreign countries are given, the fair is held, everyone wishing to feast the way their forefathers did party until early hours in the morning.

 

Festival  “Sėlos muzikantai“, Zarasai and Dusetos Village. Phone +370 650 36256.

         This is the annual account of everyone involved in music. There are but a few festivals of this kind in Lithuania when musicians gather to play for themselves. One of such festivals is this event where one has a rare chance to hear a unique instrument played – the so-called St. Petersburg harmonica. Visit this merry festival where local musicians and musicians coming from adjacent regions demonstrate dexterity of their fingers and potential of instruments and the spectators show their voice and dance skills.