2026 08 04
On August 8th, the House of Histories, a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania (NML), invites families to the third Family Weekend of this summer, dedicated to the upcoming Žolinės celebration. The full-day program will encourage families to discover ancient Lithuanian traditions, explore the world of herbs, and create, play, and learn together. Visitors can look forward to educational activities, creative workshops, traditional folk games, guided tours, a theatrical performance, and a variety of hands-on experiences inspired by Lithuanian ethnic culture.
According to the House of Histories team, the August Family Weekend invites visitors not only to learn more about the traditions of Žolinės but also to experience them through all the senses.
“Žolinės is one of the most beautiful Lithuanian celebrations, inviting us to pause, give thanks for nature’s gifts, and remember our connection with the land. We want families to discover these traditions not only through textbooks, but through scents, flavors, stories, games, and creativity. Ethnic culture is not just the past – it can be vibrant, engaging, and meaningful for everyone,” says Simona Širvydaitė-Šliupienė, Head of the House of Histories.
Throughout the day, the museum will host a variety of activities for visitors of all ages. Together with educators from the Vilnius Ethnic Culture Centre, families will be able to play traditional Lithuanian folk games and circle dances, while herbalist Rasoklė will introduce visitors to medicinal herbs growing in Lithuania and invite them to create their own fragrant herbal tea blend collection. In the experiential educational session “The Sacred Herbs of Žolinės”, participants will learn about the symbolism of the Žolinės bouquet, traditional holiday customs, and ancient harvest thanksgiving rituals.
From Mythical Creatures to Straw Garden Weaving
During the event, visitors will also be invited to explore the museum’s ethnography collection. On the guided tour “Kaukas and Other Mythical Creatures”, families will hear Lithuanian folk legends, become acquainted with mythological beings, and view the museum’s ethnographic artifacts through the lens of storytelling and imagination.
The creative program will encourage visitors not only to discover traditions but also to create their own works. Folk artist Viktorija Bitinaitė-Stankevičienė-Bitė will lead a workshop on weaving flower wreaths with a bird ornament, florist Erika Pamarnackaitė will teach participants how to decorate textiles using botanical prints, and educators from the Vilnius Ethnic Culture Centre will invite visitors to make plant-themed badges. Those interested in traditional crafts will also be able to take part in straw garden weaving workshops, where they will learn about the museum’s collection of straw gardens and create their first traditional straw gardens.
Throughout the event, visitors will also have access to open creative workshops where they can make bookmarks with botanical prints, design bracelets inspired by traditional woven plant motifs, cut paper decorations featuring traditional ornaments, and try spinning linen thread using a drop spindle.
Young visitors will also enjoy the interactive musical performance “The Story of the Grasshopper”, in which children, together with the main character, Smilga the Grasshopper, will journey through the forest, complete musical activities, dance, and discover the sounds of nature.
The third Family Weekend of the summer will take place on August 8th at the House of Histories, a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania (T. Kosciuškos g. 3, Vilnius). Admission is free, although some activities have limited capacity. More information is available on the National Museum of Lithuania’s website: click here.