Halloween in Lithuania, like anywhere else in the world, is mostly a marketing gimmick. The supermarkets have a corner dedicated to ‘ween kitch – witches’ hats, plastic spiders, “scream” masks and orange sweets. But it remains a niche celebration. What isn’t niche, in this country of impressive graveyards, is the original theme behind halloween, namely the celebration of the spirits of those that have passed. If a corner in a supermarket is dedicated to the US version, an entire department is dedicated to candles, which will be deposited among the many graveyards in the country in the coming week. Traffic jams the roads outside major cemeteries, which glitter in a sea of candlelight. As a bonus, Lithuanian pumpkins are generally without a grisly face carved into them, and are instead left to serve their primary purpose as a delicious autumn ingredient. Top tip: bake a carrot cake, just replace the carrot with shredded pumpkin. The result is amazing! This photo is of the abandoned farm in the back of Sapiegų rūmų parkas in Antakalnis.
50vilnius 