Rugiu Svente: The Festival of Rye

By Jonas Trinkunas, Vilnius/Romuva Elder

First published in "romuva/usa", Issue #9, 1992.

Beginning with the end of July and throughout August -- depending on the growing conditions each year -- the Lithuanian countryside starts to harvest the rye, the single most important grain cultivated in Lithuania. Rye is a divine grain; its fields are sacred. The harvest begins with the ritual Festival of the Rye which expresses thanksgiving for the harvest. Women and men wear their finest white linen for the ritual, and harvest the rye in these clothes.

The ritual begins with a procession to the rye fields. There, the female head-of-the-household greets the rye field with bread and salt, a traditional Lithuanian rite of homage to guests. She cuts the first sheaves of rye with one swing of the sickle. This equates to three handfuls of grain. She ties the sheaves together, brings them home and places them in the most honoured place in the home: the "krikstas" chair, located in the corner of the house above the corner stone. Her daughter-in-law covers the guest (the rye). The sheaves would be tied in two or three places. In some places, the top of the sheaves would be tied together, and the bottom would be split and tied into two or three parts. These sheaves have a magical power: they protect the home, grant people health and well-being. Once these first sheaves arrive at the home, the oration "The Guest called Rugys (Rye) has arrived" is proclaimed.

The 18th century Lithuanian Pagan historian Simonas Daukantas writes that Lithuanians used to mark the start of the rye harvest with an offering. They would bring a boulder and place it on top of a hill. The entire household participated in the start of the harvest. The family and all their hired hands would gather in the fields and celebrate the advent of young bread. The head-of-the-household would first cut the rye once, and place the sheaves upright at the edge of the harvest.

Saule, the Sun Goddess, is thanked for the harvest. The eldest woman of the household would cut a few sickles of rye, turn to the sun and bow several times. Everyone else would watch her in silence, facing the sun. In the evening, sunset is marked solemnly. Sutartines, sacred mythological rounds, would be sung: "Saulala sadina, lylia" (Beloved Saule is sitting down, lylia) and "Oi teka, bega Vakarine Zvaigzde" (How the evening star is flowing and running).

At the end of the harvest, a sash similar to a braided ponytail is woven from the last sheaves. This ensures a good harvest for the coming year. The sash is given to the fairest harvester. Another festival is held commemorating the end of the rye harvest.