The Lighting of the Holy Fire During Rasa, at the Altoniškės Sacred Mound in Lithuania
The Rasa Festivities at the Altoniškės sacred mound centers around the lighting of the Holy Fire, a key ritual in Baltic pagan tradition symbolizing purity, the sun, and divine presence. Held during the summer solstice, Rasa is one of Lithuania’s most ancient festivals, revived by Romuva practitioners and rooted in pre-Christian customs honoring nature, fertility, and ancestral spirits. The Altoniškės mound, which is steeped in legend and mysticism, is said to have once held an eternal fire, with offerings made to the goddess Altonė, daughter of the oracle Altas and guardian of young men who prayed at her altar for a worthy bride. To this day, the mound remains a living sacred space, where Lithuanian weddings, baptisms, equinox rites, and Midsummer festivals are celebrated, connecting past and present through ritual, song, and fire.