Lithuanian-Americans gather in Washtenaw County for a historic midsummer festival - MLive.com

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WASHTENAW COUNTY., MI – More than 100 Lithuanian-Americans traveled to Camp Pilenai, a privately owned campsite outside of Manchester, to celebrate a midsummer festival rooted in pagan tradition on Saturday, June 26.

Lithuanian-Americans celebrate Jonines, a midsummer festival rooted in pagan tradition. — Najiba Gaines-Hannah’s flower crown photographed during a midsummer festival hosted at Camp Pilenai, 15375 Austin Road in Manchester on Saturday, June 26, 2021. She attended the festival with her boyfriend and his family. Alyte Katilius | Ann Arbor News

Members of the Lithuanian-American community traveled across the Midwest to gather at the camp. Gema Benokraitis, from Baltimore, was found helping other women and girls make flower crowns at a picnic bench overflowing with various floral materials.

“That’s a really nice one. Because it’s got character, right?” said Benokraitis, encouraging her most recent apprentice.

According to tradition, this holiday always takes place on the shortest night of the year, symbolizing day’s victory over night. Most rituals and games played during Jonines celebrate new life and young love.

In Lithuania, young girls and women toss their flower crowns over their shoulders onto branches -- the number of attempts before they can successfully land their crowns is believed to be how many years until they will be married.

Although celebrations in Lithuania maintain many of their pagan elements, the festivities in Manchester were more modern in nature. Bounce houses and toys were set up for the children, a volleyball court for the teenagers and food and drink for the adults.

Divine Providence Lithuanian Catholic Church in Southfield is home to a Lithuanian school, basketball team, scout organization, folk dance group and more. When quarantine began due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the church was forced to close its doors.

After about a year apart, Jonines was not only an important cultural holiday for this community, but also an opportunity to come together and reconnect, church members said.

As the sun began to set, a group of children set about tossing flower petals into the nearby pond, in a moment that mimicked a ritual of their ancestors. It is said that when a young woman lays her flower crown into the water on Jonines, then the young man who picks it up on the other side is fated to be her true love.

Although Jonines may not have produced any new soulmates, that we know of, this year, it did strengthen the bond of those within the Lithuanian-American community, attendees said.

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Lithuanian-Americans gather in Washtenaw County for a historic midsummer festival - MLive.com
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Lithuanian-Americans gather in Washtenaw County for a historic midsummer festival - MLive.com

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