Making Shrove Tuesday masks

 

Duration: 1 hour

Place: similar to an authentic nineteenth-century Lithuanian peasant house

For: younger and middle-aged pupils and families

Things to bring with you: a three-litre jar

Moderator: head of educations E. Petrauskaitė and ethnographer R. Jotautienė

 

Location: the Museum of Prienai Region, 13 F. Martišiaus St, Prienai

Visiting time: a visit can be prearranged by calling +370 656 37554

Minimum number of participants: 5

Fee: 3 euro for children, pupils and students; 4 euros for adults.

During the educational program, you will learn what Shrove Tuesday is, why people drive winter out of their homes and invite spring to come on this day, and why there was a need to eat  fatty  food, usually 7, 9 or 12 times, on Shrove Tuesday? This day is marked by a carnival when people dress up like various animals and creatures. The most common masks are those of a goat, a crane, a bear, the Grim Reaper, the poor and Jews. Traditional Shrove Tuesday masks are made of wood, fur and oakum. In the museum, we propose making Shrove Tuesday masks by using the papier-mâché (French for “chewed paper”) technique.

The museum is closed during the following holidays:

 

• January 1st. – New Year

• February 16th – Lithuanian State Restoration Day
• March 11th. – Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania
• St. Easter (Sunday and Monday).
• May 1st. – International Labour Day
• Mother’s Day on the first Sunday in May
• The first Sunday in June – Father’s Day
• June 24th. – St. John’s Day (Dew and Midsummer’s Day)
• July 6th – Statehood Day (Coronation of King Mindaugas)
• August 15th. – Assumption day (Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin)
• November 1st. – All Saints Day
• December 24th. – Christmas Eve
• December 25 – 26. Christmas

 

Day before public holidays, the museum closes 1 hour earlier.