Event: Lithuania - Vilnius

Uzgavenes - Shrovetide

When:	24 Feb 2009 (various dates)
Where:	Vilnius
Costs:	Free
Opening Hours:	All day

Lithuania's version of Mardi Gras, Greasy Tuesday or Pancake Day (wherever you're from), Uzgavenes is Shrovetide excess before Lent. The Vilnius Ethnic Cultural Centre organises special celebrations throughout Vilnius' streets and parks, with people dressing up to say goodbye to winter as well as prepare for the fast ahead.

The traditional element of the feast, meant to drive away the winter, is a theatrical fight between Lasininis, representing winter, and Kanapinis, representing spring. Devils, witches, goats and other grotesque characters also appear at the celebration feast.

During the holiday, the masqueraders dance and eat traditional round pancakes that symbolise the returning sun. Of course, with Christianity's adoption of the festival it conveniently became a blow out before fasting for Lent.

The festival ends with the burning of a female winter effigy known as More, who is carried through the streets by a crowd of masked merrymakers, then burnt on a huge bonfire in a ceremonial ritual.