The Three Kings Celebration in Vilnius: Its Origin and Evolution in the Twentieth and the Early Twenty-first Centuries

The Three Kings Celebration in Vilnius, traditionally marking the end of the Christmas season on 6 January, has undergone significant transformations over the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Originally rooted in medieval European customs and influenced by Polish religious culture during the early 1900s, the celebration was suppressed under Soviet rule (1940–1990) due to bans on church activities outside religious premises. Post-Soviet revival saw the procession reinstated, now organized by the Old Town Theatre, preserving its Biblical narrative with Kings accompanied by angels and mummers. A notable evolution includes the symbolic farewell to Christmas trees, integrating the feast into modern Vilnius life as a cultural marker of the holiday season's close.

Mardosa, J. (2019). The Three Kings Celebration in Vilnius: Its Origin and Evolution in the Twentieth and the Early Twenty-first Centuries. Lituanistica, 65(1). https://doi.org/10.6001/lituanistica.v65i1.3945