Zoline is very similar to Anglo-Saxon Lammas or Lughnasadh – the celebration of first harvest and marking the end of summer. In Baltic pagan wheel of the year it is usually celebrated in mid-August, when Wiccan Lammas is in the beginning of August. Probably because of colder climate, hence later harvest, and partially because the beginning of August marks Perkunas day – the Thor-like male deity of Thunder.

In Ancient Baltic pagan practice August 15th rituals were dedicated to the mother goddess Lada (in some regions less affected by Slavic influence – Laima) by giving her the first crops of the new harvest, mostly plants, flowers and grains. It was the time to stop and assess the fruits of your labor and ask for favorable conditions to remove and store upcoming harvest.   Later, in Christian era, this practice was absorbed by Catholic church as Assumption of Virgin Mary, where wild flower bouquets were brought to the church to be blessed. But the practice to bring the first crop items to the church together with the flowers was still alive for ages. Farmers would not touch the first crop until after the “sacrifice” has been blessed. Mothers of dead children, would not eat the new apples until mid-August because consuming the first crop that belonged to the goddess would prevent her from sharing all the offerings with their children’s souls. That’s how the cult of pagan goddess got entwined with Christian Mary warship.

The late morning on August 15th my father drove me to Naisiai, about 20min drive from my hometown. The ritual has already started, but I managed to document all the key elements: cake and ales and offering of the first crop of apples, grain and even piece of freshly smocked lard to the goddess. Funny, that most people participating came from surrounding bigger towns and were not farmers, and even with avid revival of pagan ritual they brought flower bouquets, as they used to bring them to church. Wouldn’t be a surprise that the same bouquets were blessed at the church that very morning!

The day started nice and sunny, but in the middle of the ritual the clouds started gathering around the altar hill painting the sky dirty blue at first and finally pouring out as it is common after a hot day in the end of the summer. It is believed that this particular day determines the most common weather for upcoming fall. People scattered downhill seeking shelter form the rain under the surrounding trees. But the fire was tendered all the way through the rain even the ritual was kind of over. By the time we got to the car the sun was out again. I decide that it was some kind of the sign and decide to be on my way:)