The message written on Paige and Trey Bauers? T-shirts was in Lithuanian, but the message was universal: “I love my grandmother.”
The pair accompanied their grandmother to the 34th annual Lithuanian Festival in Catonsville on Sunday, the culmination of a weekend jammed with folk dancing, Lithuanian food, crafts and music. Like the Bauers, many of the estimated 2,000 visitors brought along their matriarchs to celebrate Mother?s Day and a different kind of mother ? their home country.
“What better way to honor your heritage than to do what your mother and grandmother did?” said former festival chair Regina Sajauskas. “Eat the same food, listen to the same music, speak the native tongue.”
The country, only 2.5 times the size of Maryland, produces a culture distinct to nearby Germanic and Slavic people, attendants said. The festival serves as an annual reunion, organizers said, an opportunity to showcase the things that make their heritage unique. Festival favorites include Baltic amber jewelry? also known as Lithuanian gold ? and viryta, a honey-based liquor that festival chair member Maria Patlaba called “punch with a punch.”
The Baltimore festival is smaller compared to others in the nation, but Patlaba says that helps organizers keep it traditional.
“We?re a tiny festival, but we like to keep it ethnic,” she said. “When you come, you leave knowing a little something about Lithuania.”
Organizers said Baltimore?s Lithuanian community is very active, including a Lithuanian Athletic League, Language and Culture Club and American Legion Post. The festival attracts mostly Baltimore?s Lithuanians, but attendants Sunday came from as far as Dayton, Ohio.
The festival was also a popularspot for local electoral candidates, including Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who stopped by with his mother along the campaign trail. Baltimore County Council Member Sam Moxley, D-District 1, said the festival reflects his district?s multiculturalism.
“This is a fantastic festival celebrating our heritage throughout our community,” Moxley said. “We are a very diverse community, and we are very proud of that.”
