Užgavėnės

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Užgavėnės is a Lithuanian festival which takes place on the seventh week before Easter. Its name means "a time before the Lent".

Užgavėnės begins on the night before Ash Wednesday, when an effigy of winter (most commonly named Morė) is burnt. The traditional element of the feast meant to drive the winter away is the theatricalized fight between Lašininis (a porker), impersonating winter, and Kanapinis (a hempen man), impersonating spring. Devils, witches, goats, Grim Reapers, Gypsies and other joyful and frightening characters appear in the celebration feast. During the holiday, the masqueraders dance and eat the traditional meal of the holiday - variuos types of pancakes with every imaginable topping. Round pancakes deemed to symbolise the returning sun. In the capital city of Vilnius, the celebration takes place on Gediminas Avenue, and in almost every youth club as well.