Shrove Tuesday is an exceptional day in the year dedicated to the eviction of winter and summoning of spring. Shrove Tuesday rites incorporate ancient beliefs related to the awakening of winter for the new cycle of life. Samogitian Shrove Tuesday is hardly imaginable without masqueraders and the uproar that they bring about. In Plateliai region parties of masqueraders called Shrove Tuesday Jews have been popular from time immemorial. In the after-war period the tradition of Shrove Tuesday flagged, however, was revived in the late 1960s. Starting from 1991 Shrove Tuesday celebration is organized by Žemaitija National Park.
Žemaitija National Park, Plateliai, known for the festival of Shrove Tuesday, has become the most attractive tourist area, cherishing intangible heritage (EDEN) in 2008.
Plateliai have always been famous for the carvers of Shrovetide masks. Since 1996 Žemaitija National Park has arranged exhibitions-competitions of Shrovetide masks. The stable of Plateliai mansion hosts the Shrove Tuesday exposition.
Zemaitija National Park Directorate
Didžioji str. 10, Plateliai, LT-90420, Plungės dstr., Lithuania
Company code: 191440964
VAT code: LT914409610
The founder is the State Service of Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment.
Website part-financed by the European Union 2014-2020. Interreg V-A South Baltic Cross Border Cooperation Program.
